Yet to open, Norfolk LRT hit by first car
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefNorfolk, Va., will open the newest U.S. light rail transit service for passengers next Friday, August 19, with opening ceremonies beginning Thursday evening at MacArthur Square Station in downtown Norfolk. But a careless automobile driver got a one-week jump on the opening day event, hitting a test LRT train Thursday morning at 2nd Street and Brambleton Avenue.
No injuries occurred, and the driver left the scene of the accident. Police are searching for the car and its driver, and reportedly have video footage of the incident.
The LRT car (such as seen at left) sustained damage on its left-front side, and was moved to the system’s maintenance facility for inspection and repair.
Hampton Roads Transit has conducted a safety campaign in recent weeks for the 7.4-mile line, in cooperation with city police and other agencies, to educate and alert local drivers of the rules of the road with The Tide’s impending launch.
Following a weekend of get-acquainted free service, revenue operations will commence Monday, August 22. Nine Siemens S70 cars will provide service every 7.5 minutes at peak hours, every 15 minutes off-peak, and every half-hour during late evenings and on weekends. The line, serving 11 stations, cost $338 million, and has endured several opening-day postponements.
