The Transportation, Parking, and Pedestrian Committee (TPPC) of Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) met on Wednesday morning. From that meeting:
1. One of the new hybrid buses was brought by for inspection. 10 will arrive this Spring to begin replacement of the overage fleet of 32 trolleys. It had a nice interior and is designed to seat 26.
My peeve: all the seats are sideways (along the bus' outer walls). Anyone who has rode Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) mainline knows people regularly take up 2-3 seats on such. Therefore, I doubt you'll actually get 26 seated.
2. A compromise may be in reach on the issue of replacing Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) for the VBWave Oceanfront trolleys. The framework:
a. HRT will buy and install 6-7 high-end TVMs. (That's up from the previous proposal of 4.) These machines will take credit cards.
b. All 8 Sunsations locations will sell VBWave passes. In just two months last year, they did over $12,000 in sales.
c. To bring more merchants in, HRT may offer a commission on ticket sales. Such is being considered in the ongoing Fare Study.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Oberndorf Wins In A Landslide
Meyera would love to see that headline in November. In our latest poll. Mayor Oberndorf got 84% of the vote. John Moss had 10%, while Will Sessoms and Don Weeks mustered 3% each.
I was surprised by the rout as much as anyone else. What happens in November? I myself have had a hand in an effort to recruit a fifth candidate for the Mayoral field. We'll all find out what the final field looks like in June.
The new poll is on current transit options for Virginia Beach:
1. Boost by 20%.
Enhancing what most believe to be substandard service. It would also make us eligible to begin light rail talks with the FTA.
2. Cut mainline for residents by 24%.
The position taken by City Staff in a January 9 meeting with HRT.
3. Maintain the current level.
I was surprised by the rout as much as anyone else. What happens in November? I myself have had a hand in an effort to recruit a fifth candidate for the Mayoral field. We'll all find out what the final field looks like in June.
The new poll is on current transit options for Virginia Beach:
1. Boost by 20%.
Enhancing what most believe to be substandard service. It would also make us eligible to begin light rail talks with the FTA.
2. Cut mainline for residents by 24%.
The position taken by City Staff in a January 9 meeting with HRT.
3. Maintain the current level.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Transit Day
Virginia's annual Transit Day will be Thursday, February 21. Transit advocates from across the Commonwealth will gather in Richmond to meet and lobby members of the General Assembly.
I'm slated to be part of a delegation going on the behalf of the riders of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Given the low level of service in our large metropolitan region, we need all the help we can get.
Update: Transit Day has been moved back a day to Thursday, February 21 from it's originally scheduled slot.
I'm slated to be part of a delegation going on the behalf of the riders of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Given the low level of service in our large metropolitan region, we need all the help we can get.
Update: Transit Day has been moved back a day to Thursday, February 21 from it's originally scheduled slot.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
TDCHR January 24, 2008
This afternoon the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), held it's regular monthly meeting. Two big issues came up:
1. In drafting a HRT Budget for FY 2009, both Virginia Beach and Newport News have initially requested cuts in service. Newport News and HRT are about $300,000 apart.
Virginia Beach and HRT have a $1.2 million difference. The gap becomes larger when you realize Virginia Beach needs a 20% increase in year-round service before the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will even discuss light rail with it. HRT has a draft plan that would meet the FTA criteria. $1.2 million in cuts would mean eliminating entire routes and/or weekend service.
Under FTA regulations, cuts in neither city can be made without Public Hearings.
In addition, Virginia in 2007 made available an additional $60 million/year for mass transit. With that money contingent on maintaining service, HRT could become ineligible with cuts.
2. Commissioner Paul Riddick reported a proposal out of committee for the TDCHR's Retreat...at a luxury hotel a five hour drive away.
Commissioner Jim Wood immediately protested. Wood noted that the transit-dependent would be unable to come to such an event, and that a location in the region should be found. In addition, Wood requested a roll call vote on the Retreat with all Commissioners present.
Me? I agree that a location should be found locally. Furthermore:
a. Even if observers could get hotel rooms at the TDCHR rate of $169/night, two nights room and tax would be about the price of seven 30 Day Passes ($50 each).
b. With HRT crying poor over funding for service, it sends entirely the wrong signal to be holed away in a luxury hotel not even in the same area code.
In closing, wishes for a speedy recovery to the wife of Commissioner Randy Wright, who is in the hospital.
1. In drafting a HRT Budget for FY 2009, both Virginia Beach and Newport News have initially requested cuts in service. Newport News and HRT are about $300,000 apart.
Virginia Beach and HRT have a $1.2 million difference. The gap becomes larger when you realize Virginia Beach needs a 20% increase in year-round service before the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will even discuss light rail with it. HRT has a draft plan that would meet the FTA criteria. $1.2 million in cuts would mean eliminating entire routes and/or weekend service.
Under FTA regulations, cuts in neither city can be made without Public Hearings.
In addition, Virginia in 2007 made available an additional $60 million/year for mass transit. With that money contingent on maintaining service, HRT could become ineligible with cuts.
2. Commissioner Paul Riddick reported a proposal out of committee for the TDCHR's Retreat...at a luxury hotel a five hour drive away.
Commissioner Jim Wood immediately protested. Wood noted that the transit-dependent would be unable to come to such an event, and that a location in the region should be found. In addition, Wood requested a roll call vote on the Retreat with all Commissioners present.
Me? I agree that a location should be found locally. Furthermore:
a. Even if observers could get hotel rooms at the TDCHR rate of $169/night, two nights room and tax would be about the price of seven 30 Day Passes ($50 each).
b. With HRT crying poor over funding for service, it sends entirely the wrong signal to be holed away in a luxury hotel not even in the same area code.
In closing, wishes for a speedy recovery to the wife of Commissioner Randy Wright, who is in the hospital.
All They Want is Transportation
In response to yesterday's Virginian-Pravda story on the possibility of new tolls on I-264, Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) Transportation Chairman Reid Greenmun made the statement "folks, no one wants to ride mass transit." http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/beach-revs-i264-toll-sequel Note his comment.
I've been a Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) regular rider for nearly 3 1/2 years now. I enjoy riding the bus, which has it's advantages over driving. I have no plans to go car shopping for at least another 3 years. HRT may not be perfect, but it's better than the common public perception.
Yesterday I was waiting at my home bus shelter. A lady came up to join me: probably in her 40s, simply dressed, and carrying a bag from Dollar General. Looking at her, I thought she'd probably had a rough life. Worse yet, extremists like Reid Greenmun would write her out of government policy.
Reid calls himself a "Christian". He would be well-advised to read The Last Judgement in Matthew 25, and realize the fiery eternity he and his cohorts have ahead of them. The poor lady's needs are basic; all she needs is bus service that's a tiny fraction of the overall City Budget.
I've been a Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) regular rider for nearly 3 1/2 years now. I enjoy riding the bus, which has it's advantages over driving. I have no plans to go car shopping for at least another 3 years. HRT may not be perfect, but it's better than the common public perception.
Yesterday I was waiting at my home bus shelter. A lady came up to join me: probably in her 40s, simply dressed, and carrying a bag from Dollar General. Looking at her, I thought she'd probably had a rough life. Worse yet, extremists like Reid Greenmun would write her out of government policy.
Reid calls himself a "Christian". He would be well-advised to read The Last Judgement in Matthew 25, and realize the fiery eternity he and his cohorts have ahead of them. The poor lady's needs are basic; all she needs is bus service that's a tiny fraction of the overall City Budget.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Another Case Of Two Sets Of Rules In Virginia Beach
For over a week now, signs have been in the median advertising the new Panera Bread at Virginia Beach Boulevard and Constitution Drive. They're in the Virginia Beach Boulevard median just west of the intersection.
Of course, posting signs in a road median is a violation of Virginia Beach city Ordinances (at least two). I myself have seen police remove similar signs elsewhere on Virginia Beach Boulevard. If they were pushing anti-City Hall political activity, City Manager Jim Spore would be out there with his white Corvette clobbering them himself. Yet nothing is done.
Then, we shouldn't expect this city government to hold a Central Business District business to the same standards it would try to hold everyone else to.
Of course, posting signs in a road median is a violation of Virginia Beach city Ordinances (at least two). I myself have seen police remove similar signs elsewhere on Virginia Beach Boulevard. If they were pushing anti-City Hall political activity, City Manager Jim Spore would be out there with his white Corvette clobbering them himself. Yet nothing is done.
Then, we shouldn't expect this city government to hold a Central Business District business to the same standards it would try to hold everyone else to.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Virginia News Source and Councilperson Rosemary Wilsom
As of this morning, Virginia News Source has put up links to attack videos against Councilperson Rosemary Wilson, who is up for reelection in November. The videos first started appearing last week; they're on YouTube.
Okay, my video reviews:
1. "Predator" - if you're going to imply Rosemary is involved in some shady real estate dealings, spell it out. Holding back for the Fall? Why not take her out now if you've got the evidence?
2. "What Has Rosemary Wilson Done? (Rosemary's taxing)" - not bad...except for the one rerun character from Robert Dean's 2004 Mayoral campaign. (Recycled footage?)
3. "Rosemary's babies" - I hate that song in the background. Bringing up term limits only gets the ad off-track. However, the best of the three.
Personally, I'm waiting for a good third candidate to get into the At-Large race. However, if Bob Hedrick's backers want to slime Rosemary for us, they're doing our dirty work. http://www.virginianewssource.com/ If we're going to get a steady diet of this between now and November, this could be fun.
Okay, my video reviews:
1. "Predator" - if you're going to imply Rosemary is involved in some shady real estate dealings, spell it out. Holding back for the Fall? Why not take her out now if you've got the evidence?
2. "What Has Rosemary Wilson Done? (Rosemary's taxing)" - not bad...except for the one rerun character from Robert Dean's 2004 Mayoral campaign. (Recycled footage?)
3. "Rosemary's babies" - I hate that song in the background. Bringing up term limits only gets the ad off-track. However, the best of the three.
Personally, I'm waiting for a good third candidate to get into the At-Large race. However, if Bob Hedrick's backers want to slime Rosemary for us, they're doing our dirty work. http://www.virginianewssource.com/ If we're going to get a steady diet of this between now and November, this could be fun.
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