Norfolk, Va. – Hampton Roads Transit said Monday that it will increase bus, rail, and ferry services in anticipation of crowds attending this week’s 37th annual Harborfest, Norfolk’s celebration of life in a seaport city.
The additional services will help accommodate people expected to visit downtown Norfolk June 6-9. Particular attention will be paid to serving peak demand times, such as before and after Saturday’s fireworks event.
On Friday, June 7 at 10 p.m. light rail service will increase from the normal 30 minute intervals to 15 minutes through the last train at midnight. On Saturday, beginning at 4:30 p.m. an additional train will be added and rail service will increase in frequency from 15 minute intervals to 10 minutes until midnight. Additional trains will be put into service if they are needed.
Also on Friday and Saturday, additional shuttle busses will be on stand-by at the Newtown Road light rail station beginning at 4 p.m. to shuttle customers to the McArthur Square Station, giving customers another transit option. An additional bus will be staged at the Ballentine/Broad Creek light rail station at 5 p.m.
After the fireworks on Saturday when downtown crowds build suddenly, extra buses will be staged along Bank Street between Plume and Main St. to help people return home. These express buses will connect to the Newtown Road light rail station.
The Elizabeth River Ferry service will have all three boats in operation serving Norfolk to Portsmouth, Friday through Sunday, and a fourth will be available, if necessary on Saturday.
Local bus routes 6, 8, 45 and 17, plus MAX routes 960 and 961 serve areas in downtown that are close to Harborfest events. Last year, 80,000 passengers boarded the light rail and ferry during the Harborfest/Op Sail weekend.
Hand ticket sales will take place at Newtown Road, Military Highway and the EVMC/Ft. Norfolk light rail stations, and at the North Landing and High Street ferry locations in Portsmouth. Roundtrip tickets are $3, cash only, good for rail and ferry only, not bus.
For more specific routes and times, please contact HRT customer service at 757-222-6100.
