The Virginian-Pilot
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Don't want to pay tolls at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels starting next year? Mass transit may be an alternative.
As part of the public-private deal to build a second Midtown tube, the private consortium will provide about $2.5 million each year to Hampton Roads Transit to improve bus and ferry service across the Elizabeth River.
Service frequencies will be bolstered on two bus routes, from the Victory Crossing Transfer Center and from Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, so that buses run every 15 minutes during peak hours. Those buses now run every 30 minutes.
Additionally, operating hours will be extended to 10 p.m., from the current 7 p.m., on those bus routes, plus one other that serves Midtown Portsmouth. Sunday service will be added.
Ferry service frequencies between downtown Norfolk and downtown Portsmouth will be increased during morning rush hours.
The cash price for a transit ride is $1.50; however, discounts are available when purchasing multiday passes.
The tolls will initially be $1.59 for off-peak hours and $1.84 during peak hours for cars at the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels. Motorists also using the Martin Luther King Freeway extension will pay another 50 cents.
"Everyone is fixated on tolls, but we're providing more than $2 million annually to HRT that's not a cost needed to build the project," Virginia Department of Transportation Greg Whirley said. "It's mostly because we want to address the affordability of the tolls."
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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MONEY FOR HRT
VDOT Commissioner Whirley stated more than $2M is being provided to HRT annually as part of this project. If so, then why will HRT be collecting passenger fees as well? It seems that they will be double-collecting for the added services. The money that VDOT is providing for the added services should be free to the public instead of HRT collecting twice. Typical act by HRT.
Simple
The money from the state won't cover 100% of the costs.
transportation
light rail will be a great venue for many to use and save not only on gridlock and time, but the cost of gas and save the hot air emmissions from our vehicles. what would be great, is a light rail that rides throughout the whole hampton roads area and not just norfolk, let's get it to VA BEACH, even across the bay to Hampton and Newport News. if we can move more people using an alternative and save the gridlock, time and gas, we can then show that the community of the local cities can unite together into one force.
Rail Lines
I agree that Light Rail is a good answer. We are way behind the curve on this subject. It should have been in place 10-15 years ago.
There are rail lines all over the Hampton Roads area. Why not add commuter trains to the existing lines. Not Light Rail, but actual "choo choo" trains. I know, passenger rail and freight rail doesn't mix well, but it can be worked out. Park the coal and container trains for a few hours in the AM and PM and run passenger trains. 2-3 AM trains from the far corners of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach to the Naval Base, the Airport, and all points in between. Repeat the process in the afternoon.
Increasing frequency is a first step...
...and will likely fail if they stop there.
As the only part of HRT's network which will is consistently (or for that matter, ever) faster than driving, the ferry has great potential for growth with minimal additional investment. But for the ferry to be a viable alternative HRT also needs to extend the morning hours (first Norfolk departure isn't until 7:15) and work to add/relocate Portsmouth stops to be close to major employers (Naval Hospital, NNSY, new Courthouse)
Also, they need to advertise the change to more than just their current customers, which is why they failed last time they made a token effort at improving the service: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/hrt-sinks-plan-expand-ferry-hours
Wow, Vdot sure is looking out for OUR best interest, aren't they
If you don't want to pay TOLLS, you can ride the bus.
Another way for our Government officials to try and force us to spend our money where they want it spent.
Get out of our business, and do your jobs!
P-town and the silver lining
The impacted bus routes are the 44, 45, and 47. The 45 is from Victory Crossing to Cedar Grove via the Downtown Tunnel, Olde Towne Portsmouth, and Civic Plaza Station. The 44 is from Chesapeake Square Mall to Cedar Grove via Victory Crossing, the Midtown Tunnel, and Fort Norfolk Station. Route 47 is the High Street bus.
Messina mangles a couple facts:
1. The 45 already operates until 10 and on Sunday.
2. The 44 is an hourly bus.
Given that PPTAs are going to be the means by which our major road projects are built, the silver lining is that they could become a mechanism for ramping up our region's woefully inadeqaute mass transit.
Congratulations, Portsmouth, you got some much-needed bus service! Merry Christmas.!
buses and ferries
Back in the 1950s, the ferries carried cars. Can this be done nowadays?
High Speed Ferry
A high speed ferry running from deep in Tidewater to the Navy Base and then to the Newport News Shipyard would be good. Not sure how far into the heart of Tidewater a ferry can get, but possibly starting around Military Highway or the High Rise Bridges. It could even travel once a day almost to Richmond.
Yes, but-
Docking facilities would take up valuable commercial real estate, the frequesnc of the ferries would be prohibitive due to the volume of traffic. This isn't Seattle or Hong Kong, where the cities in question are pretty much self-sustaining and quite a distance apart.