December 2011
Dear Editor-
As HRT decides who will be its next CEO, I’d like to offer a
few thoughts because the importance of HRT’s role in the economic vitality of
our region cannot be overstated. Our transportation problems, congestion
particularly, are well known. The Navy has indicated that it needs to see
improvement before it advocates for future growth of its infrastructure
here. Large amounts of money are
mentioned for Route 460 and a third crossing. The selection of a new CEO is
important because HRT can, without much additional cost and without new
infrastructure, help solve our congestion problems. Imagine for every bus we
see, we see two additional riders. That would be, during rush hour, about two
cars per bus that are no longer on the road, reducing the need for new roads (saving
us money), demonstrate to the Navy that we hear their concerns, and make available
to prospective employers the entire quality Hampton Roads workforce. More
importantly, with a good transit system, employers would have an advantage by not
having to provide as much parking, drawing jobs to the region.
HRT can do this
by increasing its ridership. This is the most important task of the new CEO. How
can HRT do this? By increasing the frequency of its busses, and decreasing the trip
travel time. Increasing frequency increases ridership because it allows people
to travel when they want to travel, just as they can now by car. People
shouldn’t be governed by a bus schedule, but rather go when they need to on
their schedule. This can be done by providing more vehicles. The additional
cost of more numerous vehicles can be offset by purchasing smaller ones that
are less expensive initially, use less gas and require less maintenance. Minivans
cost less than large busses. As ridership increases as a result of increased frequency,
vehicles will fill to the point that a bus is needed. Most importantly, as
ridership increases, so do farebox receipts, providing additional revenue. People
would willingly pay into the farebox when they see, because the new CEO points
out to them, a reduction in their personal gasoline, car insurance, and car
purchase expenses.
Travel time should be reduced in order to increase ridership.
I live in Virginia Beach. I used
to work in Suffolk. It took me one
hour to drive myself to work. The bus
schedules would have had the trip take over two and a half hours. I didn’t take
the bus for that reason.
Increasing frequency will reduce travel time by reducing
transfer time. In addition, HRT needs to conduct employer surveys so that more
direct service can be provided. I have a friend in Tampa who is served by 3
non-stop busses, each at different times, both to and from his development and MacDill
AFB. Enough people from his neighborhood work there. I’ve been working at large
military bases here for years now and have never been asked to provide my
neighborhood, my work location, and hours I need to be at work for transit route
planning purposes. Just think of the numbers of cars we could take off of our
roads, and how much congestion we could relieve, if people who commute to the
Navy base rode HRT? My guess is it would be large.
The HRT CEO should also negotiate with localities to get
permission for HRT vehicles to drive on road shoulders around congestion
points. This would reduce travel time, and at the same time, shows the priority
HRT has obtained in the eyes of the localities, and would show the drivers at
those congestion points that they should ride HRT!
HRT should be seen as an economic development partner, a
saver of road construction money, the reason people can reduce their personal
automobile use and expenses, and the provider of an easier and perhaps even a
more enjoyable commute.
Andrew Baan
Virginia Beach
