Monday, September 29, 2008

Sanity Check, Norfolk

Cedar Grove was thrown up quickly and without much consideration to bus passengers. However, Norfolk looking to spend $700,000 to move the temporary transfer center onto Salter Street is certifiably insane!
http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_092608_norf_bus_update_.b420b3c9.html

Cedar Grove would suffice as a temporary transfer center for downtown Norfolk if only the lighting was improved and portajohns were installed. Needless to say, that could be done for a lot less than $700,000. If you watch the video, bus riders comment about security; however, there was no security at the previous transfer center on Charlotte Street. I feel safer at night at Cedar Grove than I did on Charlotte Street.

Take a small fraction of that $700,000 to improve Cedar Grove, then get to work on identifying a permanent multimodal terminal site (hint: Harbor Park) for downtown Norfolk.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mayor Fraim: did you forget on Groundbreaking Day of The Tide that you said Harbor Park was going to be Norfolk's future HRT/Amtrak/Greyhound station?

Give us some porto-crappers and fix the lights and I'll shut up for now. Once they're up, get to work on Harbor Park.

It was wonderful to be back in the area for the weekend. What's this no-transfer plan I'm hearing about? Are people "pretending" they don't know about it? We still use transfers back home on MBTA.

Michael Ragsdale said...

Yeah, they're "pretending." In fact, I was on your old bus (the 25) just earlier today and someone would rather get their license than pay $3.50 for a day pass. The best way to explain the pass is on HRT's website. It's also up on every bus as you're entering. It's also on the ad section next to the lights. Don't know how anyone could miss it.

Yes, Cedar Grove's still a mess. The MAX still does not have 30-Day Senior/Persons with Disabilities farecards.

The Tide is coming along. In fact, Downtown Norfolk is next in the Construction schedule. There's even "we're still open" Downtown Norfolk booklets on the #17 NET buses in preparation of the construction, so things are coming along nicely for The Tide :)