Hampton Roads Transit brings back free rides within Naval Station Norfolk
Hampton Roads Transit is partnering with Naval Station Norfolk to bring back Base Express — a free transit service available exclusively to those commuting around the base — after a 15-year hiatus.
Beginning Sunday, Base Express will connect personnel — including service members, contractors, civilians, and visitors — to the ship piers, the Aquatics center and the commissary and Navy Exchange through two routes.
While variations of the free transit services have been offered on base dating to 1997, the last time Hampton Roads Transit provided Naval Station Norfolk with free transit service was November 2007. The past routes were discontinued due to lack of funding.
The new routes will be paid for through a $2.3 million grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the next three years. After that, the cost will be folded into the 757 Express network HRT launched in October.
“Now that we have steady funding, we are able to bring this service back to the base,” said Alexis Majied, an HRT spokesperson.
The blue route will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will start at the Gilbert and First Avenue bus stop, with stops along Virginia Avenue, the piers, and Towway Drive in 15-minute intervals.
The gold route will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The service will start at the HRT bus stop at the Navy Exchange. It will operate along portions of Maryland Avenue, Dillingham Boulevard, and Gilbert Street in 30-minute intervals.
“The circulators provide what transit officials call ‘last-mile accessibility’ for employees who wish to arrive at the base by conventional means, or who park in the Exchange area outside the gate but then must walk to their destination,” Majied said.
Representatives from Hampton Roads Transit, Naval Station Norfolk and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation gathered Friday near the Navy Exchange Complex to host a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the return of free public transit at the base.
“The immense size of the base has long been a challenge for personnel who work there and need to travel from one location to another. These routes will provide connections and convenience that will help them every day,” said HRT President William Harrell.
A “dry run” of the service started Nov. 15 to train drivers and allow for necessary route and schedule adjustments. Base commuters were allowed to try the service during the two-week trial.
“More than 100 customers rode during that period and indicated that they were happy about the new service, saying it was much needed,” Majied said.
She said HRT predicts an average of 250 rides on weekdays by 2025, representing 65,000 trips per year.
Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
