Category Archives: Route 35
Quick Route 35 ridership update
“As you can see, increased frequency allowed ridership to jump 177% from last year, and the only change was switching headways from 1 hour, back to 30 minutes. This past year, ridership exceeded pre-covid numbers which is rare for fixed route transit, so that’s exciting! Especially given the heavy emphasis on ridership in the State’s transit funding formula.” ~ Hank
Previous year with 1 hour headway had wrecked ridership & temporarily derailed growing R35. Hopefully with consistent marketing this year ridership will really explode. 
BAC Thursday MAY 16 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
BAC, the Bayfront Advisory Commission meets at OPVRS, the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Thursday February 15th at 330pm. Join us!
OPVRS is located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Enter door opposite Shore Drive.
Extra love coming to Bayfront users of HRT
Here’s the Public Notice to get your feedback.
Here’s the plans.
Here’s the scoop:
“Thank you for your inquiry about the planned improvements at HRT stops #1376 and #1304 in the Bayfront area. We’re always eager to keep our community informed and involved in our developments.
I am pleased to confirm that as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and convenience for all our passengers, concrete ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant landing pads will be installed at both stops. These pads are specially designed to ensure safe and easy access, particularly for those with mobility challenges.
Regarding the installation of bus stop shelters, I’d like to clarify that these will be undertaken directly by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). HRT is responsible for the installation and maintenance of these shelters, and they will be managing this aspect of the improvement project.
Enclosed are the detailed plans for the improvements at both stops. These documents provide a comprehensive overview of the enhancements, including the layout and features of the new ADA landing pads.
Your interest and support in improving our local transit facilities are greatly appreciated. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Best regards,
Ali Salim, P.E., PMP, PMI-RMP
Transportation Project Manager
757-385-5639
asalim@vbgov.com”
BAC Thursday NOV 16 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
Check out Agenda above!
Many items being discussed including:
- Mr. Morrison spoke with Morgan Whayland from Virginia Natural Gas and provided her with the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Design Guidelines to assist with their re-planting efforts at their property on Shore Drive.
o VNG will share the planting plan with BAC when it is completed
Change 1: Route 35 Trolley
- Change headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes daily between May and Neptune Fest.
- Headways were changed to 60 minutes for FY24. This change returns Route 35 to previous service levels
- Additional revenue hour change: 3,741 hours (97% increase to FY25
- Cost for FY24: $183,626.00
BAC supported the proposed change to 30 minute headways, but stipulated that the line needs to be promoted for use by locals, employees, and tourists.
⬆️ Greats news!
Proposed Transportation Service Plan (TSP) for FY2025 including Route 35
Route 35 Bayfront – Improve headway to 30 minutes daily between May- Neptune Festival.
Annual revenue hour change: 3,741 hours
It’ll be great to get advertising for Route 35(R35) and to help it play a role in reducing traffic for Shore Drive Phase 3 starting soon.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad October 19, 2023 330pm. Join us!
Thanks to Hank for the Agenda!
NEW BUSINESS
1) Proposed HRT Transportation Service Plan (TSP) for FY25 – Proposed service
adjustments for Bayfront HRT lines and requested changes for Route 35 Trolley.
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – November Public Workshops. Join us!
The Public Workshops will consist of a short recap presentation on themes developed in the Focus Groups and the Vision Mapping process. We will then proceed to break out into small groups to provide more direct, specific feedback on each of the draft themes. The Vision Map will take the draft themes of balanced growth, sustainability, connectivity, diversity, and wellbeing, and apply them to areas of the city to create a framework of how the city should grow and develop over time. There will be an interactive planning exercise in our small groups.
The workshops will be held at these times and locations:
- Saturday, November 4th at 2pm: College Park Elementary School Cafeteria – 1110 Bennington Road
- Monday, November 6th at 6pm: Kellam High School Cafeteria – 2665 West Neck Road
- Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm: Bayside Recreation Center – 4500 First Court Road
- Thursday, November 9th at 6pm: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3 (2nd Floor; Middle of the Building) – 1009 19th Street
There is no need to RSVP to these workshops. We estimate this meeting to run about 1.5 to 2 hours. Please pass along the information to your friends, family, neighborhoods, colleagues, youth groups, civic leagues, faith groups, etc.
The more engagement we have from the community in this process, the better the plan will be! City Staff and the Consultant Team are eager to hear from as many residents as possible, so we hope to see you there!
Here’s where we are so far.
As always, for more information or if you have any outstanding questions, please reach out to me at RacMiller@vbgov.com or Hank Morrison, the Comprehensive Planning Administrator, at JMorrison@vbgov.com.
You are aware about the reality of sea level rise(SLR) correct?
“The City Council approved on Tuesday the transfer of $1.2 million from the parking enterprise fund for Freebee.”
Shore Drive gets shafted yet again. So far.
While OceanFront again secures infinite funding, the Bayfront Shuttle budget gets SLASHED IN HALF.
“Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.”
BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 at HRT.
ROUTE 35 is BACK SUNDAY MAY 14!
Hooray!
There was fear the bayfront community wouldn’t receive the funding for this too but we got it!
Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.
Hopefully HRT will market Route 35 as it seems most people have no idea this terrific service exists.
Community Meeting Hosted by Councilmember Chris Taylor
Mark your calendar!
February 16, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Great Neck Recreation Center
2521 Shorehaven Drive, Virginia Beach
Councilmember Taylor will host a town hall meeting to update residents on current city projects and issues that impact District 8. City representatives from the Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments will be in attendance to discuss topics such as stormwater referendum progress, Great Neck Park, traffic updates and more. Attendees will have an opportunity to have their questions addressed.
The meeting will be held in Rooms 1 and 2.
On Saturday, August 13th, 2022, the volunteers of OPVRS and the community welcomed Ambulance 120 home to Station 1. This is the second of three ambulances scheduled to arrive this year.
BAC August 18th 330p at OPVRS. Join us!
Thanks to Mark for Agenda.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad
3769 E. Stratford Drive
(enter on side opposite Shore Drive)
August 18, 2022
CALL TO ORDER – 3:30 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Review and Approval of Minutes from 7/21/22
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Welcome Guests and Introductions – Phil Davenport, Chair
STAFF REPORTS
COMMITTEE REPORTS & UPDATES
Design – Bob Magoon
Communications – Vacant
Public Safety, Transit, Parking & Pedestrian Access – Martin Thomas
PRESENTATIONS
1) Green Clean Car Wash Conditional Use Permit application – 4769 Shore Drive
2) Discussion of Virginia Beach Commercial Areas Pattern Book
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
COMMUNITY REPORTS & UPDATES
ADJOURN
“A public comment session will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 9. Then, the council members will vote on the new Bayside representative.”
View article at Pilotonline.com.
The Virginia Beach City Council reviewed the nine complete applications submitted for the Bayside District City Council vacancy and shortlisted three individuals for interviews. They are:
Delceno Miles
Ronald Ripley
Charlotte Zito
Review their resumes, statement of econmic interests and more at VBGov.com.
Interested in serving on City Council representing the Bayside District?
As you know, Virginia Beach and the Bayside District lost our long time serving Mr. Louis Jones recently. The citizen appointed by City Council will hold office until Dec. 31, 2022 and must reside in the Bayside District.
Start here to learn more about applying to City Clerk Amanda Barnes.
3 items the potential candidate might be interested in advocating for for the Bayside District and Bayfront:
BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 IS BACK PEOPLES !
Woot woot!
This is an EXCELLENT way to commute around the Bayfront and travel to the Oceanfront.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Route 35 possible!
VB WAVE Ridership Data FY19-FY21
Official Ridership Data including Route 35 from HRT.
Route 35 did not operate in FY20. Ridership in FY21 seems fairly strong considering everything that’s happened since Covid19 hit.
Maybe HRT & City of VB will market Route 35 more in the Bayfront area as it seems most are not familiar with how great Route 35 is for locals.
“The VB Wave and Bayfront Shuttle services (Routes 30, 31, and 35) scheduled to start Memorial Day, May 25, 2020 have been suspended this summer due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.”
SDCC Route 35 NOV ’19 Survey Results
Our 2nd Survey about Route 35 started about a month after Route 35 ended in 2019.
SDCC View Route 35 NOV ’19 Survey Spreadsheet Results.
- There needs to be a stop on south side of Shore Drive beside Kroger’s. There are senior apartments and employees at Kroger’s who would use it if there were a bus stop.
- There should be more stops on Shore Drive..one at the foot of the Lesner on each side for residents along Page Ave and in Ocean Park would make sense. I don’t want to DRIVE 2 miles to catch the bus.
- Need more handicap services to get around oceanfront if I could go- once there- walking is tough
E-scooters taking up space at bus stops. Do e-scooters pay for that space? - The schedule is not posted at the bus stop so I don’t know when or how often it comes. Or the exact route
- Didn’t know when or where to get a return bus.
- Not familiar with how often it runs and where it stops.
- While waiting for a bus we can be there by car and come back exactly when we are ready. The bus doesn’t solve any problem for us.
- I tried once, but it was very late. Never tried again
- As I understand, you could wait for up to an hour, as it isn’t timed stops.
- Year round. Keep 30 min or less to wait. 7a to 12 midnight. Go to base entrances or close to if possiblE. DRIVERS WERE GREAT ..VB Ambassadors & information guides
- Stop by Rite Aid
- A few more stop/pick-ups in the Boardwalk/Pacific area.
- shorter wait times
- More stops at Oceanfront especially for special events
- Improve ticketing buying app so you can find stops, see times of arrival, and track live bus location with ETA. Year-round would be awesome, but at least extend the season (April to October?).
- Still not sure whether the bus stops only at designated stops or if it will stop is hailed at any point on route. Wish this info were more publicized
- Add a stop next to Kroger. There is a Special Needs young man that works there and a stop would allow him to take the bus to work. Add a stop at Kendall Street, now that the sidewalk is finished this stop would service the residents of Cape Henry Shores.
- Have Kroger sell tickets. Allow 65+ to purchase 1/2 fare tickets on the app as well as the regular fare that’s there now.
- Op.year round. First Landing/seashore park riders need to be at a pick up stop On shore drive as everyone else. Bus turning off into park area for riders waste time and resources. Never been on bus when any rider got on or off inside park. Will they pick me up at my front door? Overall, A GREAT RIDE!
Run it all year on week ends after the summer ends.
It should operate year round - I plan to use it more next year. Would love it to be year round.
- have current bus location on an “app”. (most times we’ve used it, the bus arrived over half hour after the time we expected it. So frustrating to wait that long). We would use it much more frequently if we could avoid sending at the bus stop for about an hour each round trip.
- I like the number and location of the stops. Start in April till November. Those are the only improvements for now.
- Make special trips for special events
- More stops at Oceanfront. Like the fact that it stops at First Landing State Park for the campers. Glad we have this bus but wish it ran into October.
- Please operate year round. We go the ocean front much more frequently off season to take advantage of restaurant specials and to walk or bike ride on the boardwalk.
- I would love to have it available for thebig running eventsie Shamrock half marathon and Rock n roll half marathon.
- Purchasing tickets online was not easy. Both times the driver told me I only had one ticket when I thought I bought 2.
- Year round would be great
- Love the opportunity to get to the Oceanfront without worrying about Parking. It is the best reason for ME to use public transportation. LOVE Route 35 and would like it to run year round, why not?
- year round would be great if there are enough riders, or maybe just in the evenings. We took it to avoid the horrific traffic to the parking lots at the oceanfront.
- YEAR ROUND SCHEDULE— TICKET AVAILABILTY improvement needed- CITY ADVERTISING ON SHORE DRIVE BUSINESSES and PROVIDING TICKETS AT BUSINESSES BUS DRIVERS GREAT— GREAT COMMUNICATIONS ON VA BEACH — Keep them engaged and a RAISE!! maybe a TIP Jar… really great group ambassadors of VA BCH
Operate year round ! - Make it year round
- More promotion of Route 35 by HRT & CoVB !!
- 35 should operate year round. There are a lot of restaurants on this route and people who need to get to work year round. It is good having this bus as the 29 only runs once per hour.
- I appreciate that my teenager can take it to get down to the ocean. The drivers allow him to take his surfboard. I really appreciate that they have this route.
- Year round for the people that depend on it; although, I don’t use it often, it is an easy way to get around the beach!
SDCC General Meeting Agenda – Monday Nov. 25th at 7:30pm
Click here for a printable version of the agenda 11.25.19 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday November 25, 2019 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall – 3769 East Stratford Rd
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentation – None
Officer’s Reports
Secretary – Kathleen Damon
Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic
Vice President – Empsy Munden
President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Route 35 Bayfront to Oceanfront Shuttle – SDCC has created a survey to collect feedback on the good and bad of the route. The survey results will be consolidated, posted on our website and shared with City Staff and HRT reps. The survey will be open until Nov. 30th. https://sdcc.survey.fm/sdcc-route-35-nov-19-survey
Electric Scooters – The City Code was amended by City Council to require e-scooter companies to have a franchise license with the City to rent e-scooters in Virginia Beach. The effective date of the ordinance is 12/16/19, which means e-scooters will not be available from that date until City Council awards a franchise license to companies to rent them. That timeframe is anticipated to be by April 2020.
Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Stormwater Improvement Meeting – The City’s Public Works held a public information session and presented background and initial improvement plans. Tidal gates, pump stations and channel improvements were shown. Residents asked for lake dredging. The presentation can be found here https://weloveshoredrive.com/2019/11/18/lake-bradford-chubb-lake-drainage-study-november-2019-cip-7-053-presentation-from-open-house-and-survey-due-dec-12/
New Business –
Shore Drive Improvements Phase 3 and Phase 4 – With the construction start date for Phase 3 moved to summer 2021, it may be possible to pursue an accelerated start date for Phase 4 which isn’t scheduled to begin until 2024. A cost of scope savings may be possible if construction projects are combined.
Bonaventure/Windsong Development – The developer pulled the application from the Planning Commission’s December 11th meeting. It is unclear if and when the developer will reapply.
Oceanfront TGIF Funding – Taxes collected from hotel rooms, meals and cigarettes goes into a fund for oceanfront projects. Should the portions paid by Shore Drive be used for projects in the Bayfront and what are some good ideas for projects that could use these funds.
Shore Drive Community Coalition Future Structure – A new URL [website] http://www.WeLoveShoreDrive.com has been created to be a possible transition for the future. A list of ideas will be shared and discussed on how best to progress with a community organization next year. After 20 years, are monthly meetings necessary? Would once a year with the ability to set up emergency forums work? Will an online presence be acceptable to keep residents informed and what tools would be helpful?
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.
*** Next SDCC Meeting – Should we have a meeting in December or break for holidays?***
#WeLoveShoreDrive 