Take Transit to Grand Illumination Parade with Special Fare Passes – Hampton Roads Transit

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Take Transit to Grand Illumination Parade with Special Fare Passes

NORFOLK, Va. — Taking transit is a jolly good call if you’re attending the 39th annual Grand Illumination Parade in Downtown Norfolk on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) once again is offering $4 special roundtrip passes for the Tide Light Rail and Elizabeth River Ferry so paradegoers can leave their cars behind. Kids 17 and under ride free with a paying adult.

Tickets are available online at http://www.gohrt.com/gi or via QR codes posted at all light rail stations and ferry docks. Passes are valid for travel only on Nov. 22.

In addition to convenient ticketing, light rail trains and ferry boats will operate more frequently before and after the parade, which begins at 7 p.m.

Tide Light Rail and Bus Shuttle 

Tide light rail will operate on a 10-minute frequency from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., or one hour after the parade, with an extra train added after the parade. Light rail service will operate on a 30-minute frequency from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with the last trains departing Newtown Station at 11 p.m. and from EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station at 11:30 p.m.

Supporting light rail will be HRT shuttle buses, available at Newtown Road and Military Highway stations. The buses will operate from 3:30-5:30 p.m. with nonstop service from the two stations to the City Hall loop. After the parade, those buses will depart from MacArthur Square but only back to Newtown Road Station.

Riders opting for the buses can use the same pass as light rail and ferry. Regular bus service will be suspended downtown due to traffic restrictions during the event.

Elizabeth River Ferry 

Starting at 10 a.m., the ferry will operate on a regular 30-minute frequency to and from Waterside in Norfolk and High Street and North Landing in Portsmouth. Beginning at 4 p.m., ferry service will increase to every 15 minutes.

After the parade, service is planned every 10 minutes, with boats departing Waterside directly to both High Street or North Landing. Passengers will find two lines – one for each Portsmouth dock.

The last boat departs Waterside at 11:45 p.m.

Park and Ride for Free 

Free parking is available for light rail customers at Newtown Road Station, Military Highway Station, Ballentine Broad/Creek Station, and EVMC/Fort Norfolk Station. Catching the ferry? Park for free at any Portsmouth municipal lot.

For more information on parade passes, hours of operation, or parking, please visit www.gohrt.com.

About HRT

HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable. For more information on transit services, visit gohrt.com.

Media contact:

Thomas Becher, APR
Manager, Communications
Cell: (757) 354-0564
(757) 222-6010
P: (757) 222-6010