Hampton Roads Transit announced on Saturday that more than 30,000 customers had boarded The Tide on its first full day of service, exceeding expectations for the new light rail system.
The Tide opened to the public on Friday, Aug. 19 to long lines of passengers who arrived at stations half an hour before the 6 am start of service.
Long lines at many stations persisted throughout the day as customers waited for a chance to ride Virginia’s first light rail line.
HRT has estimated The Tide will have about 2,900 boardings on an average weekday. While opening days typically generate strong demand among the curious, the number of people who rode the Tide surprised even officials at HRT.
“What a terrific start to light rail in Virginia,” said President and CEO Philip Shucet.
“I could not be prouder of the men and women who worked so hard and for so long to bring this project to completion. I know the entire region appreciates the wonderful effort that brought light rail to Norfolk.”
No system troubles were reported while trains ran at capacity for much of the day and into the evening. HRT began the day with six trains in service.
As demand intensified, two more trains were added to ease the load. Buses were also pressed into service to provide special connections for those who could not wait long in line, or could not find a seat on the train.
Numerous events on the route – such as an evening baseball game at Harbor Park and special deals at businesses celebrating the coming of rail service along the route – kept platforms full.
Opening day came after a formal ribbon cutting ceremony at MacArthur Square Station on Aug. 18, 2011 when dignitaries including Therese McMillan, deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administrator, praised the region’s investment in high capacity transit.
“As residents in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads region will soon discover, when light rail comes to town, wonderful things happen,” she said.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said the Tide has long been envisioned as the first leg of a regional rail transit system offering congestion relief and mobility options for thousands of local residents.
The starter line extends from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center complex, through downtown east to the Norfolk-Virginia Beach border at Newtown Road. Eighteen bus routes will provide service to six of the 11 Tide stations.
