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Getting around Norfolk during Harborfest 2018

Hampton Roads Transit will provide enhanced bus, light rail, and ferry services during this weekend's Harborfest.
Credit: WVEC
hrt_logo 2013.jpg

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- The 42nd annual, nation’s largest, longest-running free maritime festival, Norfolk Harborfest kicks off Friday.

Hampton Roads Transit will provide enhanced bus, light rail, and ferry services. The event runs through the weekend at Town Point Park in Downtown Norfolk.

READ MORE: This weekend: 42nd annual Norfolk Harborfest

The traffic flow in and around downtown Norfolk is expected to be congested. HRT hopes their enhanced services will encourage festival-goers a more convenient way to get to and from the festival.

HRT will provide the following transit services:

  • Friday, June 8th: The Tide will operate on its regularly scheduled times until 10 p.m. After that, service will be every 15 minutes until the end of the service day. The last train departing Newtown Road for Norfolk is midnight, and the last train departing downtown Norfolk will be midnight. At 12:15 a.m., all eastbound trains from EVMC will be out of service once they arrive at Newtown Rd. At 12:15 a.m., all westbound trains leaving Newtown will be out of service once they arrive at Ballentine Station.
  • Saturday, June 9th - Regularly scheduled rail service will operate until 4:30 p.m. After that, service frequency increases from 15-minute intervals to 10-minutes until the end of the service day.
  • The Tide’s regular Sunday service begins at 11 a.m.
  • You can also purchase Day Passes ahead of time online, instead of purchasing them at the light rail kiosks at each station.

Customers are asked to keep their tickets, fare inspections will take place on return trips. Children under 17 ride free with a fare-paying adult on all HRT services, except Paratransit.

HRT will provide additional ferry service to meet demand. Ending times will vary based on crowds and demand. On Friday and Sunday, the last boat leaves Waterside at 11:45 p.m. On Saturday, it will leave later, after crowds thin out.

Sunday will be the backup day for the scheduled Saturday fireworks.

To prevent lines at ticket machines, HRT's customer service department will provide cash only ticket sales at the following times and locations:

  • Saturday, June 9, 3-9:00 p.m. near the High Street and North Landing docks;
  • Saturday, June 9, 5-9 p.m. at Newtown Road and Military Highway light rail stations;
  • Sunday, June 10, 6:30-9 p.m. Rain Date/All Locations.

A 1-day GoPass is $4.50, and a 1-Day discounted fare for seniors 65+ is $2.25.

Shuttle buses will also be available at Newtown Road Station starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The buses will go directly to the MacArthur Square Station. After the fireworks, shuttle buses will be located at the MacArthur Square Station to take guests back to the Newtown Road Station.

For more information on Harborfest and transit service, please visit gohrt.com.

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