Hampton Roads Transit
Encyclopedia
Hampton Roads Transit a.k.a. "HRT" formed in October 1999 by the voluntary merging of PENTRAN (Peninsula Transportation District Commission
Peninsula Transportation District Commission
PENTRAN, was formerly the public transit service that covered the cities of Hampton, Virginia and Newport News, Virginia from 1975 to 1999, both located within the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, on the Virginia Peninsula....

) on the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...

 and TRT (Tidewater Regional Transit a.k.a. Tidewater Transit District Commission) in South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....

 and currently serves over 22 million annual passengers within its 369 square miles (955.7 km²) service area around Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...

.

Its service area consists of the cities of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...

, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...

, Hampton
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...

, Newport News
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...

, Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...

, Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...

 (Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...

) and the town of Smithfield
Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census....

. HRT also serves the area's major college campuses of Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University is a four-year, state-supported, coed, liberal arts, historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Virginia High-Tech Partnership.-Academics:...

, Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...

, Thomas Nelson Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College is a two-year college located in Virginia. It has two campuses - one located in Hampton, and the other in James City County near Williamsburg. It also has two education centers The Southeast Higher Education Center in Newport News and the Williamsburg Discovery...

, and Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College is a two-year higher education institution in South Hampton Roads with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach — and serving approximately 46,000 students. The school is known locally by its abbreviation, TCC.-History:The school was founded...

.

HRT's Board of Directors and its funding comes from its seven member cities. Funds additionally come from federal and state sources, advertising revenue, and farebox collections on buses and ferries.

Leadership

HRT is overseen by a Board of Directors with representatives appointed by the elected officials of various cities and towns within its service area. The seven Hampton Roads cities that participate rotate the chairmanship each year. The Honorable James L. Wood (Virginia Beach) is the outgoing current chairman and on June 25, 2010, the HRT Board elected Councilman Paul Riddick of Norfolk to succeed Wood.

HRT is currently functioning under the leadership of an interim Executive Director, Phillip A. Shucet as it seeks a permanent replacement for long-time executive director Michael Townes, who was pressured by the Board of Directors and ultimately agreed to step down after the revelation of a $100 million dollar cost overrun and a one year delay on Norfolk’s light-rail starter line, which has been named "the Tide". Shortly previously, Townes had been criticized for his handling of an employee embezzlement scheme. While he had not been directly involved in the earlier problem, a majority of the board members cited poor management and communication on his part in calling for him to step down.

Corporate time-line

NOTE: This section begins with the introduction of rubber-tired buses to the transit operations in Hampton and Newport News, following many years of public transit service performed earlier and during the transition by horse-drawn and electrically powered streetcars utlilizing rails imbedded in the streets and roads of the area.
Year Activity Cities served
1944 The Virginia Transit Company begins operating rubber-wheeled bus service in Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...

.
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

1945 The Citizens Rapid Transit Company begins operating rubber-wheeled bus service on the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...

, thus ending an era of streetcar service in Hampton Roads.
Newport News, VA
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...

 and Hampton, VA
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...

January 1973 Tidewater Regional Transit (TRT) service begins, with the creation of the Tidewater Transportation District Commission
Tidewater Transportation District Commission
The Tidewater Transportation District Commission was formed in January 1973.The formation began with the acquisition of the Virginia Transit Company, Norfolk Division , the Community Motor Bus of Portsmouth and the Norfolk, Portsmouth and Elizabeth Tunnel operators in September 1977.The formation...

 (TTDC); and acquires the Virginia Transit Company, Norfolk Division
TRT service begins in Norfolk and Virginia Beach
January 1974 Peninsula Transportation District Commission
Peninsula Transportation District Commission
PENTRAN, was formerly the public transit service that covered the cities of Hampton, Virginia and Newport News, Virginia from 1975 to 1999, both located within the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, on the Virginia Peninsula....

 (PTDC) created
April 1975 PENTRAN service begins, as the PTDC acquires the Citizens Rapid Transit Company PENTRAN service begins in Newport News and Hampton
May 1975 The TTDC acquires the Community Motor Bus Company of Portsmouth TTDC expands, with TRT service to Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...

1977 James City County Transit begins service within Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...

 and James City County, Virginia
James City County, Virginia
James City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...

 
Williamsburg, VA
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...

 not yet served by PENTRAN, nor TRT until 2004.
late-1970s/early-1980s Service expansion to Chesapeake, VA
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...

, including communities such as South Norfolk
South Norfolk, Virginia
South Norfolk was an independent city in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake, one of the cities of Hampton Roads which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway.-History:Located a few miles south of...

, Great Bridge
Great Bridge, Virginia
Great Bridge is a community located in the independent city of Chesapeake in the U.S. state of Virginia. Its name is derived from the American Revolutionary War Battle of Great Bridge, which took place on December 9, 1775 and resulted in the final removal of British government from the Colony and...

, Western Branch
Western Branch, Virginia
Western Branch is a community located in the independent city of Chesapeake, Virginia in the United States. It is located in the South Hampton Roads region and consists of generally low-lying sandy terrain of the coastal plain. The area is adjacent to a river from which its name derived...

, Deep Creek
Deep Creek, Virginia
Deep Creek is a former unincorporated town of the former Norfolk County which since 1963 has been located in the independent city of Chesapeake in the South Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia. Deep Creek is located on the original route of U.S...

 and to the newly opened Greenbrier Mall
Greenbrier Mall
Greenbrier Mall is a nearly 900,000 sq. ft. regional mall in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The mall has a hillside terrain, meaning entries exist on both upper and lower levels...

 
Chesapeake, VA
early-1990s Service expansion to Suffolk, VA
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...

, exclusively to Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College is a two-year higher education institution in South Hampton Roads with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach — and serving approximately 46,000 students. The school is known locally by its abbreviation, TCC.-History:The school was founded...

 and downtown Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
1997 Crossroads service begins, linking the Virginia Peninsula cities with South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....

 with local bus service for the first time in the region since special tunnel buses were discontinued many years earlier.
October 1, 1999 TRT merges with PENTRAN and forms Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). HRT begins with bus service already existing in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, and Suffolk.
June 2008 The MAX (Metro Area Express) began service with eight routes linking all seven Hampton Roads Cities. Norfolk (Norfolk Naval Base, Downtown Norfolk), Virginia Beach (Silverleaf, Oceanfront), Chesapeake (Greenbrier Mall, Chesapeake Square Mall), Portsmouth (Downtown, Victory Crossing, Newport News (Transit Center, Northrop Grumman), Hampton (Transit Center), and Downtown Suffolk.
August 2011 The starter line of the Tide Light Rail
Tide Light Rail
The Tide is a light rail line in Norfolk, Virginia, connecting Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, and Newtown Road. Service began on August 19, 2011....

 opens to the public after a year and a half of delays and overruns. Passengers were offered free rides from the August 19th grand opening until August 28.
EVMC/Ft. Norfolk, York St./Freemason, Monticello Avenue, MacArthur Square, Harbor Park, Norfolk State University, Ballentine/Broad Creek, Ingleside, Military Highway, and Newtown Road.

Bus fleet

Hampton Roads Transit's Bus Fleet are usually decorated with all white buses with a two line blue & green wave from the system's (T) logo which is similar to math's approximate (≈) symbol. New buses since 2006 have a wave going from the back, then becomes smooth through the front and have frameless windows. All Hybrids and the two 2006 Optima Opus' are in the blue background. All MAX buses have a silver background with sky blue & solid blue wave colors. Select buses which had the two-line wave logo have been repainted with the newer back wave design and the exterior window rows are painted black around the windows to resemble the newer buses.
Number Year Model Image Length Engine model Transmission Fuel Garage Notes
901 - 933 1993 Orion  05.501 40 feet (12.19 m) Detroit Diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...

 6V92TA
Allison HT-748 Diesel 18th Street
  • 933 has Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine and ZF
    ZF Friedrichshafen
    ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....

     Transmission.
  • As of August 2011, most have been retired.
934 - 949 1995 Orion 05.501 40 feet (12.19 m) Detroit Diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...

 6V92TA
Allison B400R Diesel 18th Street
  • As of August 2011, most have been retired.
  • 501 - 534 1995 Gillig Phantom
    Gillig Phantom
    The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Detroit Diesel
    Detroit Diesel
    As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...

     Series 50
    Allison B400R Diesel Victoria Blvd Hampton, 18th Street Norfolk
  • As of August 2011, some have been retired.
  • 1201–1229 1999 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    35 feet (10.67 m) Cummins
    Cummins
    Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...

     ISC
    Cummins C Series engine
    The Cummins ISC is a straight-six diesel engine, design by a Cummins production line, which is in displacement. This went into production in March 1998 by Cummins. The engine was built off its predecessor, the Cummins C 8.3 litre engine originally introduced in 1985 as the 6C8.3...

    Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    Last buses under Pentran and TRT.
    1230–1239 2000 Gillig Phantom
    Gillig Phantom
    The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins
    Cummins
    Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...

     ISC
    Cummins C Series engine
    The Cummins ISC is a straight-six diesel engine, design by a Cummins production line, which is in displacement. This went into production in March 1998 by Cummins. The engine was built off its predecessor, the Cummins C 8.3 litre engine originally introduced in 1985 as the 6C8.3...

    Voith D864.5 Diesel 18th Street First buses purchased under HRT.
    1240–1263 2001 Gillig Phantom
    Gillig Phantom
    The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...

    35 feet (10.67 m) Cummins
    Cummins
    Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...

     ISC
    Cummins C Series engine
    The Cummins ISC is a straight-six diesel engine, design by a Cummins production line, which is in displacement. This went into production in March 1998 by Cummins. The engine was built off its predecessor, the Cummins C 8.3 litre engine originally introduced in 1985 as the 6C8.3...

    Voith D864.5 Diesel 18th Street
    1301–1305 2000 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    29 feet (8.84 m) Cummins
    Cummins
    Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...

     ISL
    Cummins L Series engine
    The Cummins ISL is a straight-six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces , and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine....

    Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    Suffolk
    1400–1409 2001 Chance
    Optima Bus Corporation
    Optima Bus, LLC, formerly Chance Coach Inc., is a brand of small transit buses manufactured by North American Bus Industries. It was established in 1976 in Wichita, Kansas....

     Opus
    30 feet (9.14 m) Cummins
    Cummins
    Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...

     ISB
    Cummins B Series engine
    The Cummins B Series is a family of straight-four and straight-6 diesel truck and industrial piston engines manufactured by Cummins. The B Series is known for displacing "one liter per cylinder" because of the popular straight-four and straight-six. A straight-four is also available...

    Diesel 18th Street
    1500–1516 2002 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    35 feet (10.67 m) Cummins ISL
    Cummins L Series engine
    The Cummins ISL is a straight-six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces , and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine....

    Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    1600–1614 2002 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    29 feet (8.84 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    Suffolk
    1700–1715 2003 Gillig Phantom
    Gillig Phantom
    The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...

    35 feet (10.67 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Diesel 18th Street
    1800–1810 2004 Gillig Phantom
    Gillig Phantom
    The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.3 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    First coach-style buses purchased by HRT.
    1800, '02, '03, '09 & '10 are MAX buses.
    1900–1909 2004 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    First 40-foot low floor buses.
    2000–2020 2006 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Diesel 18th Street First buses with frameless windows
    1410–1416 2006 Optima
    Optima Bus Corporation
    Optima Bus, LLC, formerly Chance Coach Inc., is a brand of small transit buses manufactured by North American Bus Industries. It was established in 1976 in Wichita, Kansas....

     Opus
    30 feet (9.14 m) Cummins ISB Diesel 18th Street 1415 & 1416 are the system's first blue background colors, originally test buses for shuttles, however they are used for any regular route in the system.
    2021–2039 2007 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    2007 Startrans Candidate Ford 21 feet (6.4 m) For HRT's "Handi-Ride" service for disabled patrons
    3000 - 3025 2007 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Clean Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    Coach styling
    MAX buses
    4000 - 4025 2008 Gillig BRT Hybrid 29 feet (8.84 m) Cummins ISB-02 Allison EP40 hybrid system Diesel-Electric Hybrid Trolley Base-Virginia Beach, 18th St.-Norfolk First hybrids purchased by HRT, usually found in Virginia Beach.
    Buses 4015-4024 are the BRT roofed hybrids used for Downtown Norfolk's NET shuttle.
    2040–2046 2008 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Clean Diesel 18th Street Norfolk First buses with square sided windows on bus doors
    3026 - 3035 2008 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Clean Diesel Victoria Boulevard
    18th Street
    Coach styling
    MAX Express Buses, also equipped with cargo attachments above some seats.
    2010 Startrans Candidate Ford 21 feet (6.4 m) For HRT's "Handi-Ride" service for disabled patrons
    2047–2052 2011 Gillig Low Floor
    Gillig Low Floor
    The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, CA. The Low Floor was introduced in 1996. They are available in 29', 35' and 40' lengths. A diesel-electric hybrid version was introduced in 2004. Frameless side windows are an option. The Gillig Low Floor is...

    40 feet (12.19 m) Cummins ISL Voith D864.5 Clean Diesel Victoria Blvd Hampton Newest regular service buses on HRT's fleet
    4026-4036 2011 Gillig BRT Hybrid 29 feet (8.84 m) Cummins ISB-02 Allison EP40 hybrid system Diesel-Electric Hybrid Virginia Beach Trolley Base Newest Hybrid shuttle buses on HRT's fleet


    On July 18, 2011, it was announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia has signed an umbrella contract with New Flyer Industries
    New Flyer Industries
    New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...

     for the provision of buses to any Virginia transit authority. It remains to be seen whether or not the contract will include buses for HRT.

    Light rail fleet

    The Tide Light Rail began service on August 19, 2011 with nine of the trainsets entering to revenue service.
    Number Year Model Image Length Width Traction Motors Garage Notes
    400-408 2009 Siemens
    Siemens
    Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...

     Avanto Light Rail
    Delivered on October 2009-used since August 2011 when The Tide Light Rail began service.

    Primary services

    HRT operates 64 local fixed routes and seven express bus routes in the region.

    Route list

    Southside Routes
    • 1 Downtown Norfolk/Pembroke East
    • 2 Naval Station/Hampton Blvd
    • 3 Downtown Norfolk/Naval Station
    • 4 Old Dominion U/Downtown Norfolk
    • 5 Evelyn Butts/Willoughby
    • 6 Downtown Norfolk-South Norfolk/Robert Hall Blvd
    • 8 Downtown Norfolk/Little Creek
    • 9 Downtown Norfolk/Sewells Point Rd
    • 11 Downtown Norfolk/Colonial Place
    • 12 South Norfolk/Tidewater Community College-Virginia Beach
    • 13 Downtown Norfolk/Campostella
    • 14 Robert Hall/Battlefield/Tidewater Community College (Chesapeake Campus)
    • 15 Naval Station Norfolk/Robert Hall Boulevard
    • 16 Old Dominion U/Ft Norfolk Light Rail Station
    • 17 Downtown Norfolk/Cedar Grove/Ghent/Ft Norfolk Light Rail Station
    • 18 Downtown Norfolk/Ballentine Blvd
    • 20 Downtown Norfolk-Virginia Beach Oceanfront
    • 23 Ft Norfolk Light Rail Station/Military Circle/JANAF Center/Best Square/Military Hwy Light Rail Station
    • 25 Military Circle/Princess Anne/Tidewater Community College-Virginia Beach/Virginia Beach Municipal Center
    • 26 Tidewater Community College-Virginia Beach/Lynnhaven Mall/Oceana West
    • 27 Pleasure House Rd/Newtown Road Light Rail Station
    • 29 Pleasure House Rd/Lynnhaven Mall-Virginia Beach
    • 33 North Seashore/Municipal Center/Tidewater Community College-Virginia Beach
    • 36 Holland/Pembroke East
    • 37 Dam Neck/Oceana/Lynnhaven Mall
    • 41 Downtown Portsmouth/Cradock/Victory Crossing
    • 44 Cedar Grove/Ft Norfolk Light Rail Station/Norfolk General Hospital/Midtown Portsmouth/Chesapeake Square Mall
    • 45 Downtown Norfolk-Portsmouth
    • 47 Downtown Portsmouth/Churchland/Lakeview Ind Park
    • 50 Academy Park/Victory Crossing
    • 57 Robert Hall Boulevard/Airline Boulevard
    • 58 South Norfolk/Bainbridge Boulevard/Robert Hall Blvd


    Suffolk Routes
    • 71 OBICI/Kings Fork Rd
    • 72 Holland Rd/Paul Camp Rd
    • 73 Kingsboro/Wilroy Rd
    • 74 Lake Kennedy/South Suffolk


    Peninsula Routes
    • 64 Smithfield/Gwaltney-Northrup/Downtown Newport News
    • 101 Downtown Newport News/Kecoughton-Downtown Hampton
    • 102 Peninsula Town Center/Downtown Hampton
    • 103 Downtown Newport News/Shell Rd-Downtown Hampton
    • 104 Downtown Newport News/Newmarket
    • 105 Maple Ave/Briarfield-Peninsula Town Center
    • 106 Newport News-Warwick Blvd/Fort Eustis
    • 107 Newport News-Warwick Blvd/Denbigh
    • 109 Downtown Hampton/Buckroe
    • 110 Downtown Hampton/Thomas Nelson Community College
    • 111 Thomas Nelson Community College/Riverside/Denbigh
    • 112 Downtown Newport News-Jefferson/Riverside Hospital/Christopher Newport University
    • 113 Peninsula Town Center/Fort Eustis Express
    • 114 Newmarket/Weaver Rd-Downtown Hampton
    • 115 Buckroe/Willow Oaks/Downtown Hampton
    • 116 Lee Hall/Patrick Henry Mall
    • 117 Phoebus/Hampton University/VA Hospital
    • 118 Langley/Semple Farm Rd
    • 119 Patrick Henry Mall-Thimble Shoals Blvd/Oyster Point
    • 120 Downtown Hampton-Mallory/Buckroe
    • 121 Patrick Henry Mall-Williamsburg/Newport News


    Peninsula Commuter Routes
    • 403 Buckroe/NGSB Commuter
    • 405 Buckroe/NNTC Commuter
    • 406 Buckroe/NGSB Night Commuter
    • 409 Denbigh/Building 600 Commuter
    • 412 The ARC Commuter
    • 414 NNTC-Jefferson/Oakland Commuter
    • 415 NNTC-Denbigh Commuter
    • 424 NNTC-Shipyard Commuter
    • 427 Denbigh Night Commuter
    • 430 Denbigh Fringe Commuter
    • 432 Copeland Park Commuter


    MAX Express Routes
    • 918 Virginia Beach-Naval Station (Staff College)
    • 919 Virginia Beach-Naval Station
    • 922 Chesapeake-Virginia Beach-Naval Station Norfolk
    • 960 Virginia Beach-Norfolk
    • 961 Newport News-Hampton-Norfolk
    • 962 Suffolk-Chesapeake-Portsmouth
    • 967 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Newport News

    Handi-Ride

    Handi-Ride is HRT's ADA
    Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....

     Paratransit
    Paratransit
    Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....

     service, and is available within 3/4 of a mile of regularly scheduled bus routes. Fare is $3.00. Certification and reservations are required. Reservation hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Reservations must be made no later than 5:00 PM the day before you need transportation and you can reserve a ride up to 3 days in advance, at this time.

    TRAFFIX

    TRAFFIX is a service provided by Hampton Roads Transit. It encourages citizens throughout Hampton Roads to use alternative forms of transportation that reduces use of single occupancy vehicles. TRAFFIX oversees and promotes regional commuter initiatives, including carpooling and telecommuting
    Telecommuting
    Telecommuting or telework is a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in working location and hours. In other words, the daily commute to a central place of work is replaced by telecommunication links...

    , by reaching out to area employers. Some of its key clients include the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman, Wal-mart, and Canon. To date, TRAFFIX has removed nearly 800 vehicles off the road and has saved consumers over 600,000 gallons of gas and over $1.8 million in vehicle related expenses.
    For more information, visit www.traffixonline.org

    Ferry service

    HRT's Paddlewheel Ferry is a system of three 150-passenger paddle-wheel ferry
    Ferry
    A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...

     boats: The Elizabeth River Ferry II, Elizabeth Ferry III, and the James C. Echols. The Ferry travels between North Landing and High Street in Portsmouth and downtown Norfolk
    Downtown Norfolk, Virginia
    As the traditional center of shipping and port activities in the Hampton Roads region, Norfolk, Virginia's downtown waterfront historically played host to numerous and often noxious port and shipping-related uses...

     at The Waterside and Harbor Park.

    The Ferry operates every 30 minutes, with 15-minute service at peak times on weekends. The Ferry is wheelchair accessible and allows boarding passengers to board with their bicycles. The general cost to board the ferry is $1.50, and 75 cents for seniors and disabled patrons.

    The ferry connects with buses at County & Court in Portsmouth.

    Effective Monday, October 12, 2009 the service on the Elizabeth River Ferry will begin one hour earlier on weekdays only ( Monday-Friday ). The Elizabeth River Ferry service will now begin service at 6:00AM each weekday morning. This service change is being placed on a 65-day trail and will be reviewed based on customer demand..

    Norfolk Electric Transit

    Norfolk Electric Transit or NET is the complimentary downtown bus service provided by the City of Norfolk and operated by Hampton Roads Transit. Service, using 29-foot Gillig BRT Hybrid buses, connects the park and ride lots with the major employment sites downtown.

    Virginia Beach Wave

    The VB Wave runs through the main areas of Virginia Beach.

    Route 30 Atlantic Ave (May 1-October 2 8am-2am, About every 15 minutes) which serves all the stops along the Atlantic Avenue boardwalk, This includes the Old Coast Guard Station Museum
    Old Coast Guard Station Museum
    The Old Coast Guard Station Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of lifesaving on along the Atlantic coast.-History:In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard. The station at Seatack is now the museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk of...

    , the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, plus the north beaches HRT transfer.

    Route 31 Museum Express
    (Daily, Memorial Day-Labor Day 8am-2am, About every 15 minutes) Serves the
    Virginia Aquarium
    Virginia Aquarium
    The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, formerly known as the Virginia Marine Science Museum, is an aquarium and marine science museum located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just south of Rudee Inlet...

    , Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Owl Creek Municipal Tennis Center, Holiday Trav-L-Park Campground, and KOA Campground.

    Route 32 Shoppers Express
    (Daily, Memorial Day-Labor Day 10am-9pm, About every hour) Serves the
    Shops at Hilltop, and ends at Lynnhaven Mall
    Lynnhaven Mall
    Lynnhaven Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. It opened in August 1981. At of gross leasable area, it is not only the largest mall in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeastern Virginia, but also one of the largest malls on the East Coast...

    .

    VB Wave Service Fares:
    Adults/Children $1.00
    Child (under 38" tall) Free
    Seniors, patrons with disabilities and Medicare card holders $0.50
    Farecard holders for regular bus routes:

    MAX (Metro Area Express)

    The MAX is the first regional express service connecting all of Hampton Roads. The bus service uses dedicated Gillig buses equipped with coach-style seating to make a more comfortable ride. All MAX buses are equipped with Wi-Fi. The routes connect area Park and Ride lots to Downtown Norfolk and other major employment locations in the area. There are four other express routes (Routes 37, 64, 113 and 121) that are not branded as MAX routes, although Route 121 often uses MAX buses.

    The Tide

    The Tide, Norfolk's Light Rail System, runs from Eastern Virginia Medical School
    Eastern Virginia Medical School
    Eastern Virginia Medical School commonly referred to as EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia...

     through downtown Norfolk
    Downtown Norfolk, Virginia
    As the traditional center of shipping and port activities in the Hampton Roads region, Norfolk, Virginia's downtown waterfront historically played host to numerous and often noxious port and shipping-related uses...

    to Newtown Road (near Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital).
    The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on December 8, 2007. Primary construction began in early 2008, and the Tide became fully operational on August 19, 2011. The first train set arrived on October 6, 2009.

    Other projects including the Virginia Beach Extension Study and Peninsula Rapid Transit Project

    http://www.gohrt.com/about/development

    External links

    The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
     
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