Located on the Southside, Norfolk International Airport located
within 30-minutes commute of most business and residential areas in the region,
provides air service for more than 2.7 million passengers annually. Seventy-Five
cities are reached daily by same-plane and non-stop service. Convenient
international connecting flights are accessed within one hour's flight
time.
Airport Shuttle provides door-to-door service 24 hours daily to
most of the Southeastern Virginia area. There are also rental car agencies on
site as-well-as taxi service. Please consult the yellow pages for
taxi numbers.
Located on the Peninsula, Newport News/Williamsburg
International Airport also serves the area and is convenient to all of the
Southeastern Virginia. More than 50 commercial flights a day depart for seven
major airport hubs with same plane and connecting service to several hundred
cities in the U.S. and abroad.
Passenger railroad service is also
available in Hampton Roads. Amtrack operates direct service to Washington, D.C,
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and connecting service to many other cities
at its Newport News terminal.
Transcontinental bus service is provided at
various locations in Hampton Roads by Greyhound Bus Lines and Charter
Service.
LOCAL BUS SERVICE: Hampton Roads Transportation (HRT) operates 7
days a week. They provide service on a network of routes throughout Norfolk,
Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, as well as Route #61
Crossroads, bus service between the Southside and the Peninsula. The buses are
equipped for persons with disabilities and offer service with little or no
waiting at designated Direct Transfer Centers.
HOW TO RIDE THE BUS: Call
222-6100 to find the bus route closest to your home or work. You can board the
bus at designated stops only, clearly marked by signs and located either at the
corner or middle of a block. Shelters are available at busier stops for your
convenience. Some bus stops are serviced by more than one route, so be sure to
check the route name, number and destination, which are displayed on the front
of each bus, before boarding. As the bus approaches your destination, pull the
signal cord. The driver will stop for you to exit.
MAXI-RIDE SERVICE: In
certain areas where bus service is unavailable, HRT provides Maxi-Ride, a
convenient curb-to-curb transit service. Passengers can travel anywhere within
the Maxi-ride territory and make convenient connections to HRT bus system at HRT
Direct Transfer Centers. Maxi-Ride operates Monday-Saturday from 6:00 am - 7:00
pm. Reservations are required and are accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis. To reserve a space on Maxi-Ride, passengers are required to
call the driver directly two hours in advance on the day they wish to ride.
Fares vary by service area and exact cash fare or tickets are required at time
of boarding. Passengers can reserve a space up until one hour before HRT's
service day ends.
HOV LANES: Whether you're heading to the beach or to
the world's largest naval base, the Virginia Beach/Norfolk HOV lanes help you
bypass traffic. With roadways quickly reaching capacity, HOV lanes were
constructed to connect Virginia Beach with Naval Base Norfolk (I-64, I-264 and
I-564) in order to help ease traffic congestion for everyone -locals, military
personnel and tourists. Sharing a ride and using the HOV lanes even once or
twice a week makes a difference. HOV lanes allow motorists to travel faster,
while also freeing up congestion in regular lanes. If you want to take the HOV
lanes and are interested in starting a carpool or vanpool, call TRAFFIX at
1-800-700-RIDE. TRAFFIX, the regional commuter's resource for transportation
alternatives, has a rideshare database called the Commuter Computer, which can
help match you with riders who have similar commutes
Share a ride: During
HOV restricted periods, HOV-2 lanes require a minimum of two people per
passenger vehicle. Some vehicles also qualify as exemptions. During all other
times, HOV lanes are open to all passenger vehicles, except when the reversible
lanes are closed. Many travelers already have enough passengers, making the HOV
lanes an easy way to speed up the trip. If you're a commuter and need to find a
rideshare partner, contact TRAFFIX. They have a rideshare database that can help
match you with riders with similar commutes. By ridesharing, you will not only
save time, but money. Find out how much you can save on your
commute.
During HOV operating hours, any passenger vehicle that has the
designated number of passengers, two or more can use the HOV lanes. During all
other times, they are open to vehicles, except when the reversible lanes are
closed.HOV Lane, Fines for not having the required number of persons in the
vehicle.
Exemptions To The Rules:
1. Motorcycles are permitted to
use HOV lanes throughout Virginia during HOV hours.
2. Motorists traveling to
and from Dulles International Airport on business are permitted to use I-66
during HOV hours.
3. Clean special fuel vehicles such as electric cars and
those powered by natural gas and bearing alternative fuels license plates, are
permitted to use HOV lanes until July 1, 2004. "Hybrid" vehicles powered by
electricity and gas do qualify to use the HOV lanes according to the Department
of Motor Vehicles.
4. Emergency vehicles (fire, ambulance, rescue), law
enforcement vehicles, public utility vehicles are permitted when responding to
emergency calls.5. Trucks are permitted to use HOV lanes if they have
the required number of people. Trucks are not permitted to use I-66 inside the
Beltway at any time.
The secret to using the lanes is
simple: They are open to any vehicle with two or more
passengers. HOV is very convenient for single-car
families. Many base personnel looking to save money and gasoline use
the HOV, either by car pooling or taking the HOV Express Commuter bus run by
Tidewater Regional Transportation.
HOV PARK & RIDE: The HOV Park and
Ride is available for ride sharers who want to use one of the convenient lots as
a meeting place for car and van pools or who want to use an HOV express bus.
There are several park and ride lots throughout Hampton Roads. For a schedule or
detailed information call the TRAFFIX HOV Program at 1-800-700-RIDE.