HRPTA Blog
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Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Moves Forward
Source: Railway Track & Structures Fairfax Country confirms Dulles rail project participation, approves station Names Wednesday, April 11, 2012 The Virginia Fairfax County Board of Supervisors confirmed the county’s participation in Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reaffirmed our commitment to Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project today,” Chairman Sharon Bulova said. “It is my hope that Phase 2 will move forward as planned and we will all be able to take advantage of the enormous economic development opportunities the Silver Line extension will present.” It will take an estimated [...]
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Join HRT to Celebrate One Million Tide Rides!
We’re celebrating One Million rides on The Tide light rail in Norfolk! Please join William Harrell, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit, along with Mayor Paul Fraim and DRPT Director Thelma Drake this Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at MacArthur Square Station, 12:30pm. Refreshments provided by Bean There Café and by Jimmy John’s. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating together! For more information on Hampton Roads Transit, visit www.gohrt.com Be Sociable, Share! Tweet
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Light Rail Referendum Voting Likely in Virginia Beach in November
Source: HamptonRoads.com By Aaron Applegate The Virginian-Pilot April 12, 2012 VIRGINIA BEACH It looks likely residents will be voting in November on whether to extend The Tide light-rail line into the city. A few tweaks in the language of a referendum proposed earlier this month appeared to satisfy a majority of City Council members this week. The new question under consideration says: “Should the City Council adopt an ordinance approving the use of all reasonable efforts to support the financing and development of The Tide light rail into Virginia Beach?” The language change reflected a desire among the council to [...]
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HRT CEO, Philip Shucet, Goes Out in the Style He Rode In On: Success!
Source: HRT Outgoing HRT CEO on remaining agency officials: “These people tell the truth” By Jon Cawley, DailyPress.com 3/22/12 HAMPTON — Outgoing Hampton Roads Transit CEO Philip Shucet attended his final meeting Thursday of the agency’s governing board. And in true Shucet style, he didn’t mince words. Shucet began his monthly management report to the board, that is comprised of local and state officials, by referencing his being hired two years ago to right the listing transit agency. That was done in the wake of a scandal over mismanagement of the Norfolk light rail construction project that resulted in the [...]
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The Tide Light Rail Still Successful, 6 Months Later
Source: PilotOnline.com By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot February 18, 2012 NORFOLK Measuring The Tide’s impact in its first six months goes beyond noting that there’s standing room only on many trains heading out of downtown at 5 p.m., and that many more people are riding than were expected. Consider that roommates Stephanie Garcia and Jubilee Whaley rented an apartment within walking distance of a station so they could ride to college and work. Or that Kevin Henderson realized he and his wife need only one car between them because he commutes to work every day on The Tide. Or how [...]
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Cheat The Tide and It Costs You $250. Not Worth It
Source: HRT Light rail freeloaders face fines NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – People who ride the Tide without a ticket are getting caught. Hampton Roads Transit told WAVY.com that so far this year 38 people have been caught. In 2011, 383 riders were caught without a ticket. The Tide started service in Aug. 2011. So far, it has exceeded original projections of 2,900 passengers a day. Riders who get caught without a ticket can be fined $250. Be Sociable, Share! Tweet
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Requesting the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study transit-related issues in the Commonwealth
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 297 Agreed to by the Senate, February 2, 2011 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 22, 2011 WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is to improve the mobility of goods and people while expanding transportation choices in the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, in the last six years alone, DRPT has started six new transit systems in 16 communities; and WHEREAS, DRPT has also been instrumental in implementing some of the largest transit projects in decades including the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project and the Norfolk Light Rail Project (the Tide), [...]
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Fairfax gives final approval needed for Dulles rail agreement
Source: Railway Track & Structures Fairfax gives final approval needed for Dulles rail agreement Thursday, December 08, 2011 The Virginia Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to the funding agreement for the second phase of the Dulles Rail project, saving as much as an estimated $757 million in fees for Dulles Toll Road users. The board’s authorization was the final step needed to adopt the changes. The project’s other partners, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Loudoun County, Commonwealth of Virginia and U.S. Department of Transportation, agreed to the deal last month. “This strategy brings the cost of Phase 2 [...]
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Denver’s Eagle P3 commuter line receives $280 million federal loan
Source: Railway Track & Structures A federal loan of up to $280 million was awarded to advance construction on the 30-mile Eagle P3 commuter rail project, which will significantly expand transportation choices in the greater Denver area. “This loan brings Denver a step closer to completing this ambitious and far-reaching project that offers better transportation choices in one of the most densely populated regions of the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “We’re proud to promote a solid foundation for the region’s economic growth, while creating thousands of good jobs in Colorado.” The project is a two-pronged effort. The [...]
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HRPTA The Tide Launch Day Festivities p.III [video]
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HRPTA The Tide Launch Day Festivities p.II [video]
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HRPTA The Tide Launch Day Festivities p.I [video]
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Transit-Oriented Development Luncheon Program
Transit-Oriented Development Opportunities through Light Rail and Passenger Rail Connections Tom Clark, Executive Vice President, Metro Denver, CO (Economic Development arm of Denver’s Regional Chamber), will discuss the promotion of rail and light rail as the stimulus to development in Denver and the importance of being ready to take advantage of the opportunities to increase commercial property value. Where: The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center (4535 Commerce Street) When: Friday, October 21, 2011 Time: Registration/Networking: 11:30 AM Lunch: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Program: 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM Cost: $30 Reservations required by Monday, October 17, 2011. Sign up [...]
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The Tide Is Just One Point of Pride for Norfolk These Days
Source: Virginia Business With a 300-year history that includes two devastating fires and a yellow fever epidemic that wiped out a third of its population, Norfolk knows a thing or two about resilience and revival. Now, with the launch of its light-rail system, Virginia’s second-largest city continues to renew itself, while cementing its status as Hampton Roads’ financial and cultural hub. In August, Norfolk rolled out The Tide, Virginia’s first light-rail system, to fanfare and more than 75,000 riders during a three-day period. Expected to ease traffic congestion and provide an economic boost to the region, the 7.4 mile rail [...]
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Norfolk’s Light Rail System, The Tide, to Ride to the Norfolk Naval Base
Source: hamptonroads.com By Harry Minium The Virginian-Pilot © September 23, 2011 NORFOLK Light rail exceeded all ridership projections when it opened last month, so giddy city officials pleased with its success want to begin the process of extending it to Norfolk Naval Station. The City Council unanimously asked City Manager Marcus Jones this week to begin planning an extension of The Tide to the base. They also requested that he move ahead with plans to hire a transportation czar to oversee Norfolk’s transportation projects. Mayor Paul Fraim and Councilman Barclay C. Winn said the city can’t wait on Virginia Beach [...]
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HRT Offers More Free Rides on The Tide
Source: hamptonroads.com Free rides. HRT has signed up two more businesses for its GoPass 365 program, in which businesses and educational institutions pay an annual flat fee for its employees and students to ride all of HRT’s services for free, including light rail, bus and ferry. Portfolio Recovery Associates, headquartered next to the Military Highway station with 1,200 employees, and Glasser & Glasser law firm downtown with 220 employees are now participating. Tidewater Community College is considering the program. They join Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Norfolk Southern Corp. in the program. In all, [...]
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Buy Your HRT Bus & Light Rail Tickets Online Now
Source: hamptonroads.com Online ticket sales. Starting sometime next month, customers can purchase $3 round-trip fares online through HRT’s website as part of a three-month pilot project. E-tickets will be sent via e-mail that can be printed or downloaded to handheld phones and computers. Shucet said HRT has not found another transit agency using e-tickets. HRT will pay 50 cents per transaction for using the service. It will be evaluated after three months. The Tide is changing. After one month of service, several revisions are underway to make light rail more attractive and user-friendly, including adding wireless to the trains and [...]
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Norfolk’s Tide Light Rail Adds Wi-fi
Source: hamptonroads.com WiFi. As of last week, all nine light-rail trains were equipped with a wireless network so riders can work on laptops and other computer devices while commuting. Wireless was part of the original project design, but was cut to reduce costs before construction even began. HRT’s express bus service that caters to commuters known as MAX, already offers WiFi. The cost: about $30,000. The Tide is changing. After one month of service, several revisions are underway to make light rail more attractive and user-friendly, including adding wireless to the trains and an online ticket-purchase option. “It’s really about [...]
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TCC Students Could Soon Ride The Tide For Almost Free
Source: HRT TCC bargaining with HRT to snag special rate for students Tidewater Community College students and staff may be able to use Hampton Roads Transit’s light rail, ferry and bus services at a special rate if contract negotiations between the school and transportation provider prove a success. TCC’s College Board unanimously approved a proposal Tuesday night to begin negotiations with HRT to provide the services, which would be available to students who attend all of TCC’s campuses, said TCC President Deborah M. DiCroce. Currently, TCC provides a free, on-campus shuttle service that takes students to the campuses. Under the [...]
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The Tide Light Rail Far Exceeding Expectations
Source: HRT Norfolk’s light rail exceeds expectations Nearly four weeks into the Tide’s tenure in Norfolk, the light rail has been a major success. Ridership is actually exceeding expectations with an average of more than 5,600 people per day. “I love riding the tide. I think it’s very convenient as far as transportation and it saves me on gas since I’m a college student,” said one of the passengers. The reality of the light rail ridership has nearly doubled what was expected. The numbers are from an estimate. Each train is equipped with computerized sensors checking everyone that enters and [...]
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Norfolk City Council to Discuss The Tide Light Rail Funding Tonight
Source: HRT Light rail funding to be discussed NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A funding increase for light rail will be a topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s Norfolk City Council meeting. The agenda , posted on the city’s website, asks to increase funding for light rail construction. Right now, The Tide runs 7.4 miles through Norfolk with a price tag of $318.5 million, which is $86.5 million over budget. Council has this topic slated for a public hearing Tuesday night, which means the public has a chance to speak about the possible increase at the meeting. There are seven public [...]
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Father of Light Rail Randy Wright Feted by HRPTA
Source: Mass Transit Magazine Aug. 19–For more than a decade, W. Randy Wright was a dogged and often lonely proponent for light rail. He jetted around the country, button-holing federal transit officials to tell them Norfolk was the perfect place for mass transit. He pored over light-rail budgets, made frequent suggestions on design changes and picked the name for Norfolk’s starter line: The Tide. Many, including Mayor Paul Fraim, call Wright the father of Norfolk light rail. With that title came both credit and criticism. When officials announced in 2007 that light rail was coming to the region, he was [...]
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The Tide Light Rail Photos on Public Launch Day – set 2
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The Tide Light Rail Photos on Public Launch Day – set 1
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Let’s Meet Friday Morning at the Newtown Road Light Rail Station
