Naval Station Norfolk Transit Corridor Project Open House Round 1 Summaries Open House Dates: February 19-20, 2020
1 Station 1 Exercise 1.1 Attendee Introductions Station 1 consisted of background information about the study. Visitors were able to put pins on the map indicating where they live and work if shown on the map. Visitor questions focused around technology, and many comments and questions related to concerns about the cost or feasibility of light rail and/or bus rapid transit. Some participants wanted to know more about why the west side options had been eliminated. Many of the questions could be addressed at the other meeting stations, particularly Station 3, and participants were encouraged to continue through the meeting materials and provide their input throughout.
February 19 – Station 1 Exercise Results Naval Station Norfolk Transit Corridor Project Open House Round 1 Summaries
February 20 – Station 1 Exercise Results
2 Station 2 Exercise Station 2 offered insights into the project purpose. The public examined the major elements of the project, which include providing: an alternative to the automobile; a better transit option; support to the City of Norfolk’s plans; a strategic transit investment; and support to Naval Station Norfolk (NSN). The public then participated in a mapping exercise at the end of the station. Using green stickers, participants marked where they currently go by foot, by bike, by scooter, and by transit. With red stickers, the public marked where they wish to go but currently find it a challenge to go by foot, by bike, by scooter, and by transit.
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Mode Locations Indicated by Attendees
Accessible Locations: Ocean View Botanical Gardens Old Dominion University Downtown Norfolk
Foot Desirable Locations: Wards Corner Granby Street Military Highway Azalea Garden Road Military Circle Mall
Accessible Locations: Downtown Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Scooter Desirable Locations: Wards Corner Military Highway Military Circle Mall Sentara Leigh Hospital
Accessible Locations: Wards Corner Old Dominion University Downton Norfolk All sites along the Tide light rail
Desired Locations: Transit Wards Corner Old Dominion University Downtown Norfolk Ocean View Norfolk International Airport Military Circle Mall Regional locations such as the Peninsula, Virginia Beach Town Center, and Greenbrier Summary of Station 2 Results
3 Station 3 Exercise Station 3 invited participants to review the merits of three sets of connection options and to add their own thoughts on advantages and disadvantages of each option. The three connection options are in the areas of the connection to the Tide light rail, Norfolk International Airport, and Naval Station Norfolk. After reading informational boards, participants used sticky notes to record their perceived benefits and drawbacks for each possible connection point. Finally, participants voted for their preferred connection points.
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3.1 Connecting to the Tide (Southern Terminus) The first connection set asked participants to consider connections to the Tide light rail via the Military Highway Tide Connection Station or the Newtown Road Station. Fifteen participants voted for a connection to the Military Highway Station compared to eight who voted for a connection to the Newtown 35% Road Station.
The public preferred the Military Highway Station because of: 65% • Its redevelopment opportunities • Access to population and retail centers • More direct route to Naval Station Norfolk Newtown Road Station Military Highway Station However, participants noted that the Military Highway Station’s lack of connection to the medical complexes on Kempsville Road was a major drawback.
Others preferred the Newtown Road Station because:
• It provided an opportunity to access the medical complexes • It would not split the Tide system for a single station the way a Military Highway Station terminus would.
3.2 Connecting to the Airport The second connection set asked participants to consider connections to Norfolk International Airport via an airport Airport Connection shuttle transfer or a direct route to the airport. Twenty-three participants voted for an airport shuttle compared to 19 who voted for a direct connection to the airport. Participants noted a shuttle would: 45% 55% • Be a more flexible option for accessing the airport • Provide more cost savings for this project • Avoid impacting the wetlands around the airport • Cut down on the length of the trip in terms of both time Direct Airport Connection and distance. Airport Shuttle
Others preferred the direct connection for the following reasons:
• Transferring to a shuttle would be an obstacle for those unfamiliar with transit • It would raise the status of Norfolk among cities with public transit • It would be a user-friendly option to and from the airport for travelers
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3.3 Connecting to Naval Station Norfolk (Northern Terminus) The final connection participants were asked to consider was the connection to Naval Station Norfolk. The connection was NSN Connection via the Main Gate or Gate 4. Participants significant favored the Main Gate connection:36 of the 40 attendees favored it 10% over Gate 4.
The public preferred a Main Gate connection because:
• It would better connect to on-base destinations • It would better connect to Wards Corner 90% • It would provide access to Naval Support Activity • A Main Gate connection would be less disruptive to residential neighborhoods Main Gate Gate 4
The benefits of connecting to Gate 4 cited were:
• The opportunity to capture riders in the Ocean View area • A route that avoids congested areas • A system that more evenly distributes sailors and employees across NSN
For both options, participants noted either connection will require an on-base circulator to make this transit connection viable.
4 Attendance Data 4.1 Attendance At the February 19 open house at the Delta Hotel, there were 50 attendees, including the Community Group members who attended the 4:00 meeting. At the February 20 meeting at the Pretlow Library, 33 people attended the open house. The total attendance was 83 people. A total of 34 comment sheets were submitted (the sum total of the comment sheets plus comment cards). Twenty were submitted on February 19 and the remaining 14 on February 20.
Open House Attendees Comments
February 19 (Open House 1) 50 20
February 20 (Open House 2) 33 14
Total (Both Open Houses) 84 34
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Two pieces of data requested were zip code and city of residence. More than three-quarters of the respondents provided these data. The most represented zip code was 23518 which is roughly between the airport and Ocean View east of Military Highway. A majority of the attendees were from Norfolk.
Zip Code County %
23502 4 14.3%
23503 1 3.6%
23504 2 7.1%
23505 3 10.7%
23508 1 3.6%
23509 2 7.1%
23510 3 10.7%
23518 6 21.4%
23452 1 3.6%
23464 2 7.1%
23320 1 3.6%
23701 1 3.6%
City of Residence Count %
Norfolk 23 82.1%
Virginia Beach 3 10.7%
Chesapeake 1 3.6%
Portsmouth 1 3.6%
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4.2 Additional Attendee Questions What information will you want to know about the project in future meetings? Answered: 24, skipped: 10
Topic Summary Count %
Routes/Alignments 13 52%
Impacts (Property, streets, businesses, 5 20% environmental)
Access (i.e., for those with disabilities) 2 8%
Ridership 2 8%
Costs (For taxpayers, fares) 2 8%
What information will you want to know about the project in future meetings? (Individual responses, edited for clarity): • Proposed routes and public preferences • More specific information on proposed routes • What projects are being considered and how they came to be • Eminent domain issues • Willingness/ability to connect to other cities in the region • Routes, business impacts, ridership, and the 20-, 30-, 50-year plans • Information on the direct route vs. shuttle to airport is critically important to residents in Azalea Acres/Lakes • Ridership projections: Do they support BRT and will HRT do public education to help people understand BRT benefits vs. LRT? • Alignment alternatives • Accessibility for riders with disabilities • All of it! • Additional information about a potential extension south of the existing Tide route • Community input: What is the result of these open house events? • What obstacles arise and how are they being addressed • General project status • Project timeline and environmental impacts • Start dates of future development of the light rail routes • Where exactly the direct route to the airport runs and the details of ADA accessibility at stations • Is the project on schedule?
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• How will it impact the neighborhood streets and people’s access to their homes? How much money Norfolk and the taxpayers have to pay? • The routes when they are selected • Will there be a ferry to connect the system with the peninsula? Can we turn the #20 into a BRT during rush hour? • Any information • Possible changes to fair structure. Will there be device charging ports?
Rank the importance of the following items in determining the best route and technology. Answered: 28, skipped: 6
1 2 3 4 5 Total Average
0% 0% 0% 10.7% 89.3% Where the stations are 28 4.89 0 0 0 3 25
7.1% 25% 42.8% 17.9% 7.1% What the stations look like 28 2.93 2 7 12 5 2
17.9% 28.6% 35.7% 10.7% 7.1% What the vehicle looks like 28 2.61 5 8 10 3 2
0% 3.6% 3.6% 32.1% 60.7% Ridership 28 4.5 0 1 1 9 17
0% 3.6% 7.1% 28.6% 60.7% Economic benefits 28 4.46 0 1 2 8 17
4.3% 4.3% 30.4% 26.1% 34.8% Other benefits 23 3.83 1 1 7 6 8
0% 4% 32% 16% 48% Costs 25 4.08 0 1 8 4 12
Rank the importance of the following items in determining the best route and technology (individual comments, edited for clarity) • How many people are affected? • What considerations are being made for energy conservation, sustainability, gate security, procedures at NOB/NAS? • What considerations are being made for ADA accessibility? • Consider ease of use for tourists • Consider flexibility • Connections with other routes
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Share your comments on the initial alignment alternatives or any general project comments here. Answered: 23, skipped: 10
Topic Summary Count %
Routes/alignment input 8 34.8%
Project support 4 17.4%
Other/regional expansion 3 13%
Impacts 2 8.7%
Sustainability/resiliency 2 8.7%
Individual comments on initial alignment alternatives and project in general (edited for clarity):
• I prefer a connection to Gate 2 and a direct connection to the airport • The route should serve Military Circle, JANAF, Airport, and Wards Corner • I appreciate the opportunity to put my input on record. I've hoped that the light rail would be extended for a long time. I've been a public commuter since the age of 12. Things have not improved much since then. I'm 26 now. It’s disappointing to see how long it’s taking for us to make these changes. I don't drive and I don't want to. I don't mind my two dollars going towards something I benefit from/appreciate. But these changes are taking way too long. • I would like to see current neighborhoods stay as intact as possible • Until all the Hampton Roads cities and the Peninsula can connect, it will continue to short- change the economic gains of this region and never fully allow it to be a true region and have a sense of true community • The impact to small business during construction and after completion are very important factors to consider while designing, be the impacts negative or positive • There probably needs to be some more discussion on sustainability. There was a lot of discussion on what is good for now but looking ahead (30 years?) will be instrumental in this project. • I think a western alignment would help develop those parts of the city and provide better connectivity in the city overall • The Military Highway Station and a shuttle to airport allows for more direct trip to NSN. Main Gate access will also provide opportunities for NSA, HR, and NIT • I would be interested to hear about implementation in other areas • Shuttle to the airport is a no-brainer. Makes more sense to go from Military Highway Station to Base straight down Military Highway. • As oceans rise, flooding will become a problem
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• In 20 years, our war will be fought less with ocean vessels and more with missiles and drones guided for Omaha! • Are there plans to reduce transit to NSN? • Feel it is best to take route from Newtown Road (close to hospital) and go up to meet Military Highway corridor. It MUST connect to airport and base. • Going to NSN is a great idea I would ride light rail every day • Should go to airport through JANAF • As a Norfolk resident I am pleased to see my tax dollars being well spent by expanding HRT! • Housing: Where are the people projected to live? • Project should be regional in the future. (ie, connect to other cities) • Make Norfolk more pedestrian and bicycle friendly • It sounds like a good idea but money might be a problem. The taxpayer is exhausted with having more and more monies coming from them to do these many projects. Hopefully, a solution can be found. • I feel like the more job centers it connects the better, but it must be direct enough not to slow it down too much • I think it’s great that the cities are considering light rail expansion • Thought needs to be given to the sections: Single track instead of double track where expensive such as bridges; tie-in with neighborhood connector services; perhaps automated system such as the one in Morgantown, WV
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Do you have any comments or feedback on tonight’s open house? Answered: 29, skipped: 5
Topic Summary Count %
Positive comments (no negative 18 64.3% comments)
Additional project/input questions 5 17.8%
Other/regional expansion 2 7.1%
Individual comments on tonight’s open house (edited for clarity):
• This was informative; a good start • A good beginning for the project • I enjoyed the setup and the ability to speak with someone to get a better understanding immediately • Very nice presentation. All of the stations were informative and the people manning them listened. • A great start. I am looking forward to hearing and seeing more • Thank you for this – it’s great to participate and come to this! • VERY informative, and I appreciate the areas that we were able to have input • Good way to let people see the planning process at their own tempo. Questions were answered along the way. • I liked the many opportunities for engagement. Layout was logical and graphic panels easy to absorb (a few could've been more concise). I felt there were enough staff members to explain and answer questions. • I appreciated the representative interaction and info on redevelopment projects • A good project and venue • I am okay with shuttle idea from Military Highway to the airport as long as shuttles can accommodate riders with luggage with a smooth transfer • The Facebook campaign was effective and informative. The city should use Facebook more often to communicate important community initiatives. • Please make an effort to support civic league involvement. Come to meetings and establish a point of contact for civic league leaders. • How many hours per week are "congested" because of the Naval Station Norfolk? How many other hours per week will other schools, hospitals, offices, businesses on the eastside of Norfolk benefit from faster transit. • I like my car; I wouldn't use LRT or BRT. Prove that the money we're spending now is worth it. • What we really need is light rail across the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel to get cars off the bridges
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• Any system to NSN needs to be 24/7. • Schedule improvements are needed on the existing light rail route • Good open house flow, informative, and I appreciate the input asked for’ You should do radio announcements and/or billboards to reach more people • Well done! • Needed and need more information • It is now the time, when you decide more into which mode of transportation and which area will be affected • Good presentation; clear, concise, and well delivered for so much info • Very informative • Great; there should be more • Very well put together and very informative. It affirms that our thoughts matter and count • I'm glad I attended. I hope for a Glenwood Park Station • I would like to see a more direct route from Pembroke Mall to Lynnhaven Mall and a bus stop on the mall side so that don’t have to cross a busy road. Also, add service later at night to accommodate mall workers who have to close. • Include bus rapid transit from Oceana and Naval Hospital
How did you find out about the open house? Answered: 28, skipped: 5
1
2
0
0
0
15
1
11
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5 Online Survey Results A survey was posted on the project website through April 6, 2020. It paralleled the content of the public meetings in a more concise way, allowing the project team to get both qualitative and quantitative data that are comparable to the Round 1 Open House data. There were 23 respondents in total.
5.1 Connecting to the Tide (Southern Terminus) Respondents were asked, How should the new high-capacity transit service connect to the Tide? Military Highway was the preferred connection point to the Tide light rail system for 61 percent of the respondents. This is similar to the response at the open houses, where 65 percent preferred Military Highway over Newtown Road.
Tide Connection
Newtown Road Station 22% 17%
Military Highway Station
61% No Opinion/No Response
5.2 Connecting to the Airport Online respondents were asked: How should the new high-capacity transit service connect to the Airport? Just over 60 percent of the respondents preferred a direct connection to the airport. This is in contrast to the open houses, where 55 percent of those who responded preferred the shuttle.
Airport Connection
Direct Airport 39% Connection
61% Airport Shuttle
5.3 Connecting to Naval Station Norfolk (Northern Terminus) The third access question was as follows: How should the new high-capacity transit service access Naval Station Norfolk? Nearly half of respondents wanted to see a connection at the Main Gate while a quarter wanted to see the access point at Gate 4. The remaining quarter of
April 14, 2020 | 13 Naval Station Norfolk Transit Corridor Project Open House Round 1 Summaries respondents had no opinion. This is similar to, though not as skewed as, the results from the open houses, where 90 percent of those who responded wanted to see the Main Gate connection.
NSN Connection
26% Main Gate 48% Gate 4 26% No Opinion
5.4 Route and Technology Online respondents were asked to rank the importance of the following items in determining the best route and technology. There were between 20 and 22 responses for each item. The highest ranked items were, in order: the locations of the stations; the economic benefits of the extension; and the ridership. These three items were also the top three for the respondents at the open houses. The least important item from the online survey was the appearance of the vehicle which matches the least important item from the open houses.
1 2 3 4 5 Total Average
0% 0% 22.7% 13.6% 63.6% Where the stations are 22 4.41 0 0 5 3 14
9.5% 28.6% 28.6% 9.5% 23.8% What the stations look like 21 3.10 2 6 6 2 5
18.2% 31.8% 22.7% 0% 27.3% What the vehicle looks like 22 2.86 4 7 5 0 6
0% 4.5% 27.3% 22.7% 45.5% Ridership 22 4.10 0 1 6 5 10
0% 4.5% 22.7% 27.3% 45.5% Economic benefits 22 4.14 0 1 5 6 10
5% 5% 45% 25% 20% Other benefits 20 3.50 1 1 9 5 4
0% 9.1% 63.6% 9.1% 18.2% Costs 22 3.36 0 2 14 2 4
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5.5 Survey Comments The comments recorded online included the call for complementary transit on NSN property, the need for bicycle and pedestrian access to the stations from the neighborhoods in the area, and preferences for the airport access. The seven comments were thematically similar to the comments the project team received at the public open houses. One of ideas that was present in a couple of the online comments that was notable was the need to make decisions for this route based on future regional connections—namely to Chesapeake.
Individual comments from the online survey (edited for clarity):
• By having the termination of the line at Gate 2, you can have increased ridership from residents south of that point (Larchmont, Edgewater, etc). If not, there is little reason for those residents to use rail. A direct route to the airport will improve parking and increase flight frequency at the airport. • Need to also work with the Navy for mass transit on NSN; currently there is no way for the riders to then get to their jobs and NSN is too large to assume they will walk. • I don't see why there can't be direct service to the airport, I am aware that the Botanical Gardens is there; however, I believe it should at least have a stop at the edge of the arrivals building that is near the rental car lot. Also, there should be an extension of the #18 as once previously planned to serve the airport. The light rail or BRT line should actually start in the Greenbrier area. There should also be a BRT or limited service via Military Hwy as well, this perhaps can run from Greenbrier to the Naval Base; this could expand the options for access to high frequency, high quality transit. Light rail would provide a faster alternative to even the #919. The current existing local route (#15) would continue to exist, but maybe at a reduced capacity. I know the #919 exists currently, and requires a park and ride, however the 919 possibly can be phased out when the high- capacity transit and limited services are operating. • Prefer light rail to dedicated buses • In order for this project to succeed, alignments to both airport and BOTH gates need to be included. Both gates require a station. If we focus on one gate versus the other, we will not tap into the full potential of shifting personnel into transit. Likewise, we need to include a spur alignment into ORF to likewise capture air passenger market. An elegant solution must be found! • Norfolk is leading the way for Hampton Roads by creating public transportation options that will help people decide to get out of their cars. If you build it, they will come! Please remember to make sure neighborhoods within a few miles of the stations can easily access HRT by walking or biking to the station. This will increase ridership and decrease the need for parking. I currently bike to the Military Highway TIDE station, although the layout of sidewalks nearby (non-existent) and the absence of a crosswalk at Military Highway and Corporate Blvd does not make this easy or as safe as it could be. • In a bigger picture, Military Highway is the better alternative because it will be easier to build an eventual spur into Chesapeake. We need to look at the strategic and multi-city approach. I think at that point Virginia Beach eventually jumps on board. It could be many years from now, but it makes Military Circle the crossroads which in the long run has better development opportunities than Newtown Road and subsequent tax revenue. For the
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airport it is better as a shuttle. The detour will affect ridership to NSN. An extra 5-8 travel time will affect ridership so don't shoot yourself in the foot. In fact, the shuttle could connect the airport, the outlet malls, and Ikea. As to the terminus, the closer to the jobs on the base the better. Saving money to go only so far and then have people connect to another form of transit on-base does not make practical sense.
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6 Appendix 6.1 Open House Comment Form Template
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