NORFOLK — Hampton Roads Transit and the city are partnering to connect the dots between its light rail stations and Naval Station Norfolk on the west side with more transit in mind.
HRT project manager Jamie Jackson presented several ways to do it at Lambert’s Point Community Center Thursday evening in an attempt to gauge the public’s first impressions.
“We want to be open to what works better for the public,” Jackson said. “We need your input.”
The community presentation kicked off the second phase of the Norfolk Westside Transit Study, a five-phase effort to find the best route and method to move, whether it be light rail, rapid bus transit or street cars.
After gathering input from comment cards, e-mail and social media, staff will narrow down the alternatives and present them to the public again in September. Spring 2018 is the scheduled date to commit, according to HRT’s website.
The alternatives listed below are simply routes without a decided mode of transportation yet.
While NSN is the finish line for each alternative, the ways to get there vary, stringing shopping centers, hospitals, historic districts, neighborhoods and other bus routes together.
Here are 12, according to the study’s proposals.
Alternative 1 – 6.3 miles
This route could run from the Fort Norfolk/Medical Center light rail stop and run straight up Hampton Boulevard, cross the Lafayette River and end at Gate 1 at NSN.
It would pass through neighborhoods including Ghent, Fort Norfolk, West Ghent, Lamberts Point, Larchmont and Edgewater, Chelsea, ODU Village, Lochaven, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook and Glenwood Park.
Alternative 2 – 6.3 miles
This route could run from Fort Norfolk/Medical Center light rail stop, travel up Claremont Avenue to Elkhorn Avenue, turn into Hampton Boulevard, cross the Lafayetter River and end at gate 1 at NSN.
It could connect neighborhoods including Fort Norfolk, West Ghent, Lamberts Point, Larchmont and Edgewater, Chelsea, Lochhaven, Meadowbrook and Glenwood Park.
Alternative 3 – 6.5 miles
This route could begin at the Fort Norfolk/Medical Center light rail stop, run up Killam Avenue, take a left on 45th Street, turn right on Hampton Boulevard and end at gate 1 at NSN.
Neighborhoods along the way include Fort Norfolk, Ghent, Kensington, Highland Park, Larchmont and Edgewater, ODU Village, Lochaven, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook and Glenwood Park.
Alternative 4 – 6.5 miles
This route could begin at the Fort Norfolk/Medical Center light rail stop, run down Colley Avenue, turn right down Hampton Boulevard and end at gate 1 at NSN.
Neighborhoods it would go through include Fort Norfolk, Ghent, Park Place, Lamberts Point, Larchmont and Edgewater, Highland Park, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook, Lochaven and Glenwood Park.
Alternative 5 – 7.1 miles
This route could run from the Freemason light rail station up Duke Street to Llewellyn Avenue, turn left at West 26th Street, take a right on Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods it would go through include Freemason, Ghent, Park Place, Lamberts Point, Larchmont and Edgewater, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook, Lochaven, Glenwood Park and ODU Village.
Alternative 6 – 7.1 miles
This route could run from the Freemason light rail station up Llewellyn Avenue, turn left at West 26th Street, right onto Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods it could connect to include downtown, Ghent, Park Place, Lamberts Point, Larchmont and Edgewater, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook, Lochaven, Glenwood Park and ODU Village.
Alternative 7 – 7.2 miles
This route could run from the Monticello light rail station up Boush Street to Monticello Avenue, take a right at West 27th Street, right on Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods it could run through include downtown, Ghent, Park Place, Lamberts Point, ODU Village, Larchmont and Edgewater, Lochaven, Meadowbrook, North Meadowbrook and Glenwood Park.
Alternative 8 – 8 miles
This route could begin at the Civic Plaza light rail station, go up Fenchurch Street onto Church Street, make a left at West 27th Street, turn right on Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods it could reach include downtown, Young Terrace, Park Place, Lochaven, Glenwood Park, Attucks and Barberton, Olde Huntersville, Larchmont and Edgewater, North Meadowbrook, Meadowbrook and Lamberts Point.
Alternative 9 – 8.8 miles
This route could begin at the Monticello light rail station up Monticello Avenue to Granby Street, turning left at Terminal Boulevard, turn right on Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods it could touch include downtown, Ghent, Park Place, Riverview, Riverpoint, Cromwell Farms, Talbot Park, Bolling Brook, Suburban Acres, Wards Corner, Glenwood Park and Belvedere.
Alternative 10 – 7.2 miles
This route could run from the Monticello light rail station, run up Monticello Avenue to Granby Street, turn left at West Bay Avenue and end at NSN gate 4.
Neighborhoods it could reach along the way include Downtown, Ghent, Youngs Terrace, Parks Place, Riverview, Belvedere, Cromwell Farms, Talbot Park, Suburban Acres, Wards Corner, Northside and Bolling Brook.
Alternative 11 – 8.6 miles
This route could begin at the Monticello light rail station, run up Monticello Avenue onto Granby Street, turn left on West Little Creek Road, turn right on Hampton Boulevard and end at NSN gate 1.
Neighborhoods along the way include downtown, Ghent, Park Place, Riverview, Belvedere, North Meadowbrook, Cromwell Farms, Talbot Park, Bolling Brook, Suburban Acres, Wards Corner, Glenwood Park, Titustown, Riverpoint and Lochaven.
Alternative 12 – 7.7 miles
This route could begin at the Civic Plaza light rail station, up Fenchurch Street onto Church Street, run on Granby Street, turn left on West Bay Avenue and arrive at NSN gate 4.
Neighborhoods along the way include Downtown, Youngs Terrace, Park Place, Riverview, Belvedere, Olde Huntersville, Cromwell Farms, Talbot Park, Suburban Acres, Wards Corner, Northside, Attucks and Barberton.
What do you think of these proposed routes? Let HRT know by emailing Jackson at [email protected] or connecting with the organization on social media.
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