Thursday, November 11, 2010

Bus Riders, What Are Noteworthy Issues?

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) President Phillip Shucet has asked HRT Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC) Chairman Henry Ryto to take him bus riding so he can see issues out there firsthand. While a specific date has yet to be set, they plan to go in December or January.

For the bus riders who read this blog (and I know sometimes you comment), what should be on their itinerary? Shucet has a half day in his busy schedule for it. Ryto immediately thought of Cedar Grove and the rush hour Route 15, though the former fades much with this week's announcement on the probable move of the transfer center.

Okay, what would you add to the schedule and why? Sound off in the Comments section.

Update: it's going to be a full day with the CEO in January. Keep the ideas coming, as we have a full day's schedule to fill.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Take the 4:45 PM #12 from 20th & Seaboard.

A) Indian River/Reon Park & Ride
B) Indian River Rd Parking Lot

Good luck trying to make it to TCC at 5:45 PM

Anonymous said...

Maybe he should try to operate the equipment instead of being a passenger!!!!!!

Amanda Jennings said...

Second Anon: maybe if he had a Class A or B CDL (with "P" (Passenger) and Air Brake endorsements).

At least Shucet is willing to ride the buses. Did Townes ever ride?

Anonymous said...

Ask him why the 20 leaves pembroke at 18 after and the 36 leaves at 19 after. Would a 1-2 minute schedule change really be that bad? The 20 is always late anyway and oftentimes will let people off before making the loop into the bus stop.

Wally Erb said...

What would reveal interesting information is a color-coded time period maps of Virginia Beach which would reveal the regions of accessibility by individuals that rely on mass transit. Different times of the day such as 6AM-10AM, 10AM-2PM, 2PM-12PM, 12PM-6AM (only an example). Are their any portions of Virginia Beach that are not readily accessible within reasonable walking distance of mass transit?

Avenging Archangel said...

Amanda,

For as long as Townes was there, I was astonished on a couple occassions by things he didn't know about HRT's bus system.

Anon 1:42,

The 36 departs at :10 during the day, while the 20s aren't scheduled to arrive until :15. Given that the change was made Labor Day, 2005, I'm astonished by the number of bus riders who still can't get that one right.

Wally,

A survey of morning bus riders was done as part of HRT's Comprehensive Operations Analysis. More wasn't done due to budgetary constraints.

As for areas not served by HRT in Virginia Beach, Fairfield and Woods Corner immediately come to mind.

Anonymous said...

Another area not served:

* The Amphitheater / Sportsplex area (and the 33 doesn't count)
* Downtown Pungo
* Sandbridge (including Little Island)

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry I got it wrong, why does the 36 arrive at 19 after while the 20 leaves at 18 after.

Avenging Archangel said...

Anon 9:43,

Sportsplex is definitely an issue with our new UFL team apparently playing there.

20k people are suppose to get out that three lane road by automobile after a game?!? Who came up with that crazy idea?!?

I've said before that I'd like to see seasonal (Summer) service TCC - Sandbridge in outlying years. However, we have more pressing transit needs in VB than a beach shuttle right now.

Pungo? Nowhere near the population density to make it work.

Avenging Archangel said...

Anon 11:28,

Very simply, the 36 has to jump from TCC with rest of the lineup. If it makes it to P East a couple minutes early, you're on the 20s. If not, you're waiting until quarter til or (at rush hour) the :38 Inbound Cutback.

Anonymous said...

Pungo is easily served on a TCC-Sandbridge route. Come down Princess Anne (southern branch), hang a left onto Indian River, left onto New Bridge, and right onto Sandbridge

Anonymous said...

I mainly want to take the bus to the Strawberry Festival while still adhearing to the Bush era FTA rules of no public transit used for charters

Arnold Smythe said...

Be sure to try and hit the 44, 45, and/or 57 if you can. Also, use the 961 to cross the water if possible (could we PLEASE have a 30-Day MAX pass for Seniors/Persons with Disabilities - I live in Hampton and work in Downtown Norfolk and can't afford $95)

Avenging Archangel said...

Arnold,

Not only do I wholeheartedly agree on the need for a MAX 30 Day ED, but I've lobbied for one in the past. The issue with Michael Townes was that while Federal law required HRT to give a ED fare on mainline buses, there was no requirement on a premium service like the MAX. Therefore he wouldn't do it.

At one point I e-mailed an aide (a friend of a friend) in Senator Webb's office to try to get him to try to change the requirement, but I never heard a word on it. Given that a big group suffering from the policy is veterans going to the VA hospital in Hampton for treatment, I thought it was the kind of issue Webb could sink his teeth into.

During the now-suspended 2010 fare review, a MAX 30 Day ED option was being looked at at one point. However, it wasn't in what Staff planned to report out to the Commission. Therefore, bus riders need to lobby for one when the fare review gets back underway in 2011.

On Portsmouth, simply time constraints won't allow P-town and a Peninsula visit on the same day. However, I do plan to list Route 41 in my written document as a route I urge Shucet to ride seperately.

Since we'll be going to/from the Peninsula at midday, obviously both trips will be on your 961.