HRT To Offer Enhanced Memorial Day Service
Norfolk – Memorial Day weekend could bring some of the larger crowds in recent years to Norfolk where multiple concerts, baseball at Harbor Park, and celebrations associated with the 18th Annual Patriotic Festival are scheduled.
In addition, Festival Park in Portsmouth will host the 30th annual Umoja Festival, while funk superstar Chaka Khan will perform at the adjacent Portsmouth Pavilion on Friday, May 27.
To prepare for the influx of thousands of people, Hampton Roads Transit will operate enhanced light rail, bus, and ferry services through the weekend to provide patrons options for a car-free travel when many garages are expected to be at near capacity.
Events will be held along Waterside Drive, at Scope Arena, and at Town Point Park to celebrate the nation’s great heritage of the armed forces. The Norfolk Tides will be in town all weekend concluding a week-long series with Gwinnett Stripers.
Events begin on Thursday when Waterside Drive closes to traffic at 7 p.m. For details on concerts and events, visit the Patriotic Festival website. Text PATRIOTIC 888-777 to receive street closures, parking and inclement weather updates, as well as emergency alerts.
Light Rail
Light rail will operate on 15-minute frequency. By 4:45 p.m., the frequency gradually increases to every 8 minutes until the platforms at Monticello (Friday), MacArthur Square (Saturday), and Harbor Park (Friday and Saturday) stations have cleared. At 11 p.m., trains return to 30-minute service until the end of revenue service on Friday and Saturday. Sunday service will terminate after the event is cleared.
Bus
The following bus routes service downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20, 44, 45, 960 and 961 Given the possibility of larger than normal crowds, additional buses will be positioned near the MacArthur Square Station to help alleviate any overflow crowds on The Tide. Additional operators also will be on standby.
Ferry
The Elizabeth River Ferry will run regular summer revenue service from 5:30 a.m. until the last pick-up at Waterside at 11:45 p.m. Ferry service will begin serving Harbor Park from the North Landing dock one hour before the start of the Tides’ game and run until one hour post-game. Two ferries will run a 15-minute service to Waterside (High Street/North Landing/Waterside route) from 4:00 p.m. until 11:45 p.m., the last ferry to leave Waterside.