Opening day at Amtrak's newest station: Newport News, VA

[@PiplupJames]

As a fellow Amtrak employee, thank you for covering this and Newport News is in my hometown area. It’s been a LONG time coming. The new station will have a rarity in the south with level platforms.

[@29downtheline]

Thanks for watching! The level boarding is really nice! One of the first stations in Virginia to have this feature! (I think the only other one is Roanoke)

[@PiplupJames]

@@29downtheline it is Roanoke :)

[@corbinmckee7158]

I bet when they connect Blacksburg to Roanoke, that will get a new platform at level. Still hoping there will be an updated connection between Richmond and Charlottesville, so in theory NPN could easily take you across the state without hitting DC.

[@29downtheline]

@@corbinmckee7158 That east-west route can’t come soon enough! And I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t give a station in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg area high level platforms, so that’s probably a good assumption!

[@samtrak1204]

High platforms speed up boarding and detraining and are way safer than steps.

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

FYI it was short notice because we made that date by the skin of our teeth and didnt have a temporary cert of occupancy until the day before at the service facility. No service facility = no train service. I am the PM for the City on this project. It was 12 years of my life. Very nice video, I think Im in it a couple times. LOL

[@29downtheline]

@@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker Ah that makes sense about the service facility. Didn’t even cross my mind until you mentioned it! Regardless, you all did a really nice job with the station! I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!!

[@BrodysBettas]

@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker I appreciate the hard work! How is the handicap access for wheelchairs?

[@29downtheline]

@@BrodysBettas There’s a small gap between the train and the platform, but other than that, direct access between the station, platform, parking lot, and bus bay is totally accessible!

[@CableFlame]

@@29downtheline Yup, I used a rollator walker the last time I went there and it's accessible, if not a bit of a pain because there's not a straight shot sidewalk between the platform and the parking lot; it's kinda roundabout. The parking lot is definitely much farther away from the platform than the old station, which removes accessibility a bit if distance is an object. But level boarding is so much better than the rickety lifts they used to have!

[@29downtheline]

@@CableFlame Level boarding is really a plus! My guess is that the grassy mound between the parking lot and the platform that prevents a direct sidewalk from being built is excavated dirt from construction. Probably easier to just leave it on-site!

[@lmfw43]

At 7 years old in 1950 I remember boarding the train from first Newport New's first Train station. It was a segregated station. I remember the "WHITE" sign in the station! Dispute that sign, the train ride, the dining car, the cattle in stockyard in Chicago and the oil fields are memories of me as a seven year old! I fell in love with traveling train. Now at 81 years old Amtrak is my favorite way to travel to MD & NC. At the top of my Bucket List is to travel the circle around the county and the "2" rails east to west and north to south.

[@29downtheline]

@@lmfw43 Nice! Train travel is truly something special! I’d also love to take a train trip across the country someday!

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for showing both the old and new stations. The new one looks great bright with the natural light through the big glass areas. The best feature is the high level boarding. I am getting older and find it much easier to get on or off a train at high level platforms. I hope it will not take much time for the local transit system to serve the station. That is a long walk from the station to the main road otherwise. I hope the new station helps increase the ridership to and from Newport News.

[@29downtheline]

@@johnchambers8528 Thanks for watching! I would have to agree that high level boarding is the most important upgrade in terms of station functionality! The large waiting room is really nice, though, and I’d even go as far as saying I think this station is better than Norfolk’s across the river!

[@Coob5412]

Good to see a channel local to my area get some attention , never stop loving transit!

[@29downtheline]

I plan on releasing more Hampton Roads content soon! I’m in Newport News for much of the year, so there will definitely be more videos filmed!

[@CableFlame]

@@29downtheline You ever planning on doing a meetup for local transit nerds? I'd love for us to get together and talk trains & buses!

[@29downtheline]

@@CableFlame I haven’t really considered it, mostly because I feel like the channel is still pretty small and I’m not sure how many transit enthusiasts there are in Hampton Roads (but I know there are at least a few)! It’s something I would be open to in the future, though, so I’ll have to give it some thought!

[@ashextraordinaire]

I'm gonna miss that dinky little station! So many trips made from there, so many memories. Guess I need to check out the new one and make new memories!

[@29downtheline]

The old station certainly had some charm! It’s where I started my first-ever Amtrak trip, so I think I can empathize with you there! But, other than the worse location (in my opinion) and worse bus service, the new one is much better than the old!

[@ashextraordinaire]

@@29downtheline I took my first Amtrak trip out of that station in 1988 when my grandmother took me with her to the French embassy in DC. Still have the pictures!

[@29downtheline]

@@ashextraordinaire Very nice!

[@Spedatr0n]

Thank you for this! I’ve missed watching the trains leave the station after my shift at the shipyard!

[@29downtheline]

@@Spedatr0n The old station was a pretty good spot for watching trains, since the rail yard was there as well. I kinda wish they kept the old station in addition to opening the new one. I understand it was probably an operational headache for CSX, but the old station is in a much better location for a lot of Newport News and Hampton.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

​@@29downtheline The old station was in a better location from the standpoint of passengers. It was definitely more convenient to Hampton and downtown Newport News. However, keeping it there was likely not operationally sustainable for Amtrak. ( It will be interesting to see how turnaround and on time performance are affected with the dedicated infrastructure ). Yet, we will miss seeing passenger trains coming into and out of downtown NN.

[@CableFlame]

@@WillsJazzLoft I even enjoyed getting to watch the last NE Regional of the day cross Jefferson down by 664, even if it did mean we had to wait a few minutes extra to get home. :)

[@29downtheline]

I never did see an Amtrak train use that wye. I did get to see one use the brand new one at Bland, though!

[@divox9pqr]

Absolutely beautiful new station. Good for Newport News. I live in Baltimore MD, so we are expecting some beautiful changes to our situation as well.

[@29downtheline]

@@divox9pqr I actually took a train to Baltimore Penn Station a few weeks ago (it will show up in a video eventually)! I’m not really familiar with many of the plans up there, so what kinds of changes are they making?

[@tyleralberico]

Omg I had no idea how much this channel is blowing up but this is amazing!!! I’m so happy for you!

[@29downtheline]

Thanks for saying that! I’m glad it’s starting to take off! A lot of the growth has been centered around a few videos, but it’s been otherwise growing little by little!

[@cliveexton8993]

So well done! Thank you so much for sharing with the world. You did a great job.

[@29downtheline]

@@cliveexton8993 Thank you!

[@MrMarshmallow26]

Nice! I was the kid set up with the tripod lmao. This was a very cool event and unique experience to pull up to and I'm glad to see this station finally open. Would be neat if HRT modified its route to have service right up to the building though. Seems like quite the walk.

[@29downtheline]

Oh awesome! The experience was way better than I expected; I wasn't expecting so many railfans and TV cameras to be there! Interestingly, all the fanfare seemed to be off the train. There didn't seem to be as much enthusiasm on board. The walk to the bus stop actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, since I ended up getting the 108 from Bland & Campbell instead of walking all the way to Warwick Blvd for the more familiar 106 & 107. Not sure when HRT will move bus service, but the stops are already there. They could quite literally do it overnight if they wanted to (but I imagine they'll give us more notice than that). Did you happen to catch the CSX train that came through right before Train 67? It was going pretty fast through Williamsburg while I was waiting to board!

[@MrMarshmallow26]

@@29downtheline I imagine the people on board didn't even know the station was opening haha. And no, that CSX train passed long before. I was there since around 9:50 or so so it must've been pretty quick! I also just remembered the HRT signs in the bus loop so that's good to hear.

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

@@29downtheline doesnt seem right to have HRT bays and pads for their shelters that they demanded and no HRT there huh? conduits run to the building to an HRT IT room for their signage that they demanded but no HRT there? You can lead a horse to water......

[@29downtheline]

@@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker Oh wow. Do you know if they’ve set a date when they want to move service or no?

[@MrMarshmallow26]

@@29downtheline Found some info for ya. Route 108 is set to serve the new station on October 27, 2024.

[@Menaiya]

I drive past this everyday. I didn't realize it was closing down. Great Video.

[@29downtheline]

Thanks for watching!

[@raymondmuench3266]

Thank you for this! When I lived in Hampton, NNews was my way up North on Amtrak. The old Amshack was small and shabby. This looks so much better. A lot farther from downtown NNews, though. Wish they’d built something similar in Norfolk.

[@29downtheline]

@@raymondmuench3266 Norfolk’s station isn’t bad, but it is pretty small. And yes, the new station, other than the location, is very much an improvement from the old!

[@nukebuilder]

Hey thanks for posting this. I drive past the old station on my way to the shipyard every day. I had NO idea about the change until I watched your vid, lol. Subbed 😊

[@29downtheline]

Thanks for watching! Last time I checked; the old station still had the big illuminated Amtrak Newport News sign right on Warwick, which really doesn’t help to send the message that the station moved! And thank you for the sub as well!

[@TheBeagle58]

Nice to see our buses representing at the new station. good video!

[@sheleighrichards5977]

Thanks, Last ride out of NPN was 36 years ago with my grandmother to D.C, where I reside now, thank you memories of Ants, Uncle's, Grandfather, We all walked that platform once apon a time.

[@29downtheline]

@@sheleighrichards5977 Glad you enjoyed!

[@CJ-fh5xq]

Beautiful station.

[@PixelDoodles]

Thanks for the vid, I'm going to DC from here soon and wanted to see the inside lol

[@29downtheline]

You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed! I’m actually using the station again tomorrow! I just wish it were a little easier to get to by bus!

[@DakinSmith-tr8ik]

I have been inside the old amtrak station a few times and amazing that the new building is bigger than the old what inhave seein

[@ajmtravel4856]

Great job. Good video.👍

[@29downtheline]

@@ajmtravel4856 Thank you so much!

[@lmfw43]

The overhead covered platform covering was actually ripped off support pillars by tornado like wind gust during SEVER Thunder storm in summer 2023. The debris removed as it was on tracks for trains bring coal to be loaded on ships.

[@29downtheline]

@@lmfw43 Oh I didn’t know that, very interesting! Makes a lot of sense!

[@charlesbell9709]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@29downtheline]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@nikp6302]

Dropped my parents off there back in June for their train up to DC, didn't know they were shutting this one down this year. I was shocked at how old this place was too, figured we'd have something a little better in our area considering Ft. Eustis.

[@29downtheline]

The old station was definitely showing its age! Interestingly, Amtrak also used to serve Lee Hall, which was probably a little more convenient to Ft Eustis!

[@nikp6302]

@@29downtheline That makes sense, I actually work on Eustis so I go by the museum almost everyday, I need to stop in some time and check it out, haven't been to that museum in probably 15yr but it looks cool every time I drive by it

[@29downtheline]

⁠​⁠@@nikp6302 I have yet to visit either of the transportation-related museums up there. Did you mean the Army Transportation Museum on post or the Lee Hall Depot Museum?

[@nikp6302]

@ the Army Transportation Museum, it’s on Eustis but I think you should be able to get a one-time pass for the museum from the visitor center right outside Gate 1

[@29downtheline]

⁠@@nikp6302 Good to know!

[@maurice5977]

I have been waiting for this !!!

[@29downtheline]

Same here! Glad that it’s finally open!

[@scottl.1568]

Sweet!

[@29downtheline]

Indeed! Thanks for watching!

[@happyhome41]

How weird, backing into the (old) station. We had tickets to this station for Thanksgiving, and then recently, received a change notice, going instead to the new station. So was just waiting for this video. Nice. “Track 1” - too funny.

[@29downtheline]

I think they’re going to back into the new station as well, as I don’t think there is anywhere to turn trains around past the new station on the siding. They will likely have more flexibility when they have the train at the new platform, though, since it’s not in the middle of an active freight rail yard. The new station is definitely an upgrade from the old! Glad you liked the Track 1 joke; Williamsburg did have more than one track at one point, but not anymore!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Great video, and good to see your trains were both hauled by Genesis P42 locos ! Maybe HRT will run buses to the new station when the grand opening takes place in September ?

[@29downtheline]

@@anthonywarrener1881 Glad you enjoyed the video! The P42s are typical for this part of the route, but occasionally we’ll get one in one of the special liveries! As for why HRT would wait until the official grand opening to reroute service? I’ve got no clue. Everyone who would have used the old station is now using the new one, so I don’t think they would have a reason to wait, but we’ll see. 0.3 miles to a bus stop is fine for suburbia, but not for a train station! It’s a long way to carry luggage! Thanks for watching!

[@bfcks]

Since I was a small child 55 years ago, I've always wondered how people are supposed to get from train to plane; now somebody at the city wondered the same thing. THANK YOU for covering mass transit in my hometown. America is so far behind more civilized countries. This station gives me a bit of hope that we'll begin to see better transportation in Hampton Roads. All we need is leadership for HRT who would roll up their sleeves and straighten out the mess. Absurd how many destination bus stops are inaccessible from one's origin stop, no matter how many days you allocate. The bus routes seem to have been planned under the influence of alcohol. And we still can't pay with a phone SMH. They were about to test app payments for bus rides Summer 2019, it was delayed for a year…and we know what happened then. I'll vote for you if you run for HRT Boss!

[@29downtheline]

Thanks for the comment! I’m glad I got to be in Newport News when the station opened; it was really neat! I agree 100% that transportation around Hampton Roads needs to improve. I’m hoping it gets better soon (there are a few improvements coming at the end of October, but they’re not enough). I do have a few ideas of how I would improve HRT, and the need to transfer buses to get to popular destinations (like the train station) is definitely something I’d love to fix!

[@WillsJazzLoft]

There is a y down around the interchange for 664, 34th Street and Jefferson Ave. It's good that they finally opened the new station. The overhead for the old station was severely damaged after a storm. The biggest problem with old station was that it didn't have enough land. When I drove for Orange Cab, picking up at the old station was a challenge. The driveway into the station was narrow. There wasn't enough parking for people wanting to drop off their vehicles to take the train. The walk to the HRT bus stop was relatively easy and if you were waiting for the outbound train there's a 7-11 a block up on Main Street (cheaper than Amtrak food). Still the new station is better. I doubt that the 112 would be sent that far out. I really think that if one is going to get that early train the traveler is likely to take a taxi or Uber or Lyft. It's nice to have a sidewalk

[@29downtheline]

The sidewalk (and basically everything else at the new station) is a plus, but I actually like the old location better. As someone who doesn’t have a car, I miss the better bus connections at the old station. There are a lot of buses a 10-15 minute walk away from the new one, but it’s nothing like the old, where the 106 & 107 stopped right out front. Also, someone else commented that the only bus serving the new station directly will be the 108 (which runs hourly). Newport News claims the new station is more conveniently located, but now no downtown buses will serve the new station directly. No easy connection from the Newport News Transit Center means it will be harder for Hampton and downtown Newport News residents to get to the station. I really think HRT should look into a new route from the downtown transit center to the train station, passing CNU, Riverside Hospital, and Patrick Henry Mall on the way.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

I know that in your remarks as well in the video you've discussed the participation of HRT. I've watched another video which ran from the old station to somewhere up north. In that video it only took less than ten minutes to get to the new station. So HRT really needs to consider light rail on the Peninsula - at least between Denbigh and NN. The right of way is already there. They may need to do additional land acquisition but it wouldn't be much.

[@29downtheline]

Rail transit on the peninsula would be amazing (and relatively easily, as you pointed out)! I would love a Denbigh-Downtown light rail, and I’d even like to see it go northeast from downtown into Hampton!

[@NigelThornbery]

What do you thinks going to happen with the Norfolk Amtrak stations parking lot considering they want to build a casino right behind it. I could only imagine the parking during a game at harbor park and add in the casino parking lot with the station, I feel like it’s going to be a nightmare there.

[@29downtheline]

Well better transit would partially solve this issue. Maybe running regular ferries to Harbor Park? HRT has the infrastructure to run more ferries, but I’m not sure if they have the staffing for it. Secondly, they could heavily restrict parking around the station for passengers only. Regardless, it’ll probably still be less than ideal! Hopefully they don’t just add tons more surface parking!

[@NigelThornbery]

@@29downtheline maybe a parking garage

[@WillsJazzLoft]

​@@29downtheline it seems that they would likely build up rather than out

[@Rushmore222]

I don't know how they managed it, but it's a brand new station and it already looks ten years old.

[@29downtheline]

Well it was substantially built for a long time; it just took them forever to open it!

[@blnmadisonbm]

GREAT VIDEO. I DRIVE TOUR BUSES 🚌 and live in VIRGINIA BEACH, and was wondering when the new station 🚉 would open. I also used to work for HRT, and YEAH, the old colors were DEFINITELY better. HRT LOOKS MORE LIKE GRT in RICHMOND now. Anyway, GREAT 👍 VIDEO.

[@29downtheline]

Thank you so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed!

[@WillsJazzLoft]

'Passengers should proceed to track 1'. The announcement does seem rather ridiculous. Thanks for putting this together.

[@29downtheline]

I feel like Alexandria is even quirkier, in that it has tracks 2 & 3. There is a track 1, but it’s behind a fence and mostly just used by freight trains. Thanks for watching!

[@Madwonk]

Cool to see that these investments are being made- esp. as Amtrak Virginia seems to be on the upswing with new investments and service improvements coming in the near future!

[@29downtheline]

Hopefully that upswing continues!

[@Madwonk]

@@29downtheline that's the goal- I think the immediate hurtle is going to be getting WMATA sustainable funding because if that falls apart it's gonna affect a lot of transit downstream

[@rdbarne]

I remember catching the Colonial 94/95 to head up to NYC as a kid. Good memories.

[@29downtheline]

@@rdbarne Did you ever use Lee Hall station on the Colonial?

[@rdbarne]

@@29downtheline not personally but when our family came down from NYC they would get off there as we lived in the northern part of Newport News near Fort Eustis and it was quicker to get to Lee Hall. Downtown Newport News wasn’t the best area I’m not sure how it is now. It’s been about 33 years since we moved from the area.

[@29downtheline]

⁠​⁠@@rdbarne Downtown has certainly seen better days; there are lots of abandoned-looking buildings, but there is also some new development down there. It’s unfortunate that South Newport News and Hampton folks now have to travel further just to get to the train station. They claimed the new one would be more centrally located, but I’m not sure they took Hampton into consideration.

[@shirleyjohnson7192]

This is my hometown!

[@CrazyWhiteBoomer]

About damn time...

[@lemapp]

In the 1970's, to save money, Chessie system removed one of the two sets of tracks between Richmond to Newport News. It was to save on taxes. Then the VP who came up with that plan was fired. They have never made an attempt since then to restore the missing mileage of double track.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

This removal was done in segments so that siding tracks were still available. In fact, one segment of double track begins just northwest of the new Newport News station. So at least the full second track isn't missing. It would be great if the second mainline could be reestablished throughout the full subdivision though, as Newport News will be playing a major role as an eastern terminal station for east/west Virginia service on the future Commonwealth Corridor.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

Fascinating!

[@aaronhill443]

I remember my Navy days back in the late 90s taking the train from Newport News to BWI to catch Southwest Airlines to fly either home to Cleveland, or visit my girlfriend at the time in St. Louis.

[@29downtheline]

Even though it’s slower, I think the train beats (in terms of quality) I-95 up towards DC, Baltimore, and beyond; it’s a more enjoyable experience!

[@Josephcavagnaro]

also does it have a ticket machine?

[@29downtheline]

@@Josephcavagnaro I honestly don’t remember. I know the old station had one, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was moved to the new one.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

There is a ticket machine next to a manned ticketing and baggage check-in booth.

[@Shortline819]

Reminds me a lot of the Auto Train terminal in Lorton. I also noticed there is space between the CSX main and track 1. More room for platforms in the future?

[@29downtheline]

@@Shortline819 I see what you mean; the glass motif does resemble Lorton a little. I wouldn’t be surprised if the extra space is for another platform, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if the platform is where it is simply because of property boundaries. Either way, I’m not sure!

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

no. CSX wanted it for a future track

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

@@29downtheline the space is for a future CSX track. There used to be one there until they removed it.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

@@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker Doesn't seem likely unless confirmed by CSX. If they wanted a second track, they'd likely build it on the end closest to I-64. There is a nearby double tracked segment just before the station from the northwest where two tracks goes into one so it wouldn't make sense to put a new track on the opposite side of the existing second main. Rather, they would just connect the new track with the existing second main segment. That space could very well be used for a second platform track, perhaps when the Commonwealth Corridor is established, so probably not in the near future. That would kinda stink if CSX does end up building there though.

[@rwjr1944]

Beautiful new station but the trains seem antiquated after visiting Europe and Japan.

[@29downtheline]

They’re from the 1970’s, so they’re getting up there in age. Some of them even leak water from the roof when it rains!

[@sheilah4525]

A brand new station on a tired branch line.

[@reidr7288]

You go to CNU?

[@29downtheline]

I do! Do you?

[@reidr7288]

@@29downtheline yuh

[@29downtheline]

@@reidr7288 oh nice what year?

[@reidr7288]

@@29downtheline senior

[@tvdan1043]

Nice high platform. I was very disappointed when Norfolk built their new station at Harbor Park with a low platform. I realize concrete isn't free, but it's seriously embarrassing to build a new station in 2012 with a 1970s mindset. Newport News got it right.

[@frontrowviews]

Im so confused, did they build this station in a day?

[@29downtheline]

No, the new station was under construction while the old station was still open. I simply took the last train out of the old station before it closed, and rode on the first train into the new station the next day once it opened to the public. It sat unopened for a while after it was substantially completed!

[@vitamaltz]

I spent decades in Yorktown and Newport News but moved away and had no clue this was happening. It's fantastic! Spent plenty of time at the old station. One time I traveled from. Buffalo to Newport News. Pretty sure that was a trip between Amtrak's two ugliest and least inspired stations.

[@29downtheline]

Uninspired is certainly a good adjective for the old NPN station!

[@Ericlovestrains]

Do they have vending machines or a cafe

[@29downtheline]

Vending machines, but they weren’t yet installed when I was there.

[@Ericlovestrains]

@@29downtheline oh ok

[@MrMarshmallow26]

A cafe probably won't happen until Newport News is used more regularly with more Northeast Regional and Commonwealth Corridor services. The station only sees two round trips so it would be kind of hard for a cafe to provide regular service there when people are only there for so long.

[@kittyplays2324]

I'm in northern Newport News

[@samtrak1204]

Train exterior and windows are filthy. Does Newport News have a car wash?

[@29downtheline]

@@samtrak1204 Not to my knowledge (but I’m not certain). I feel like the windows are usually not super clean out of NPN.

[@vitamaltz]

It's a good point. Since trains turn around at NPN, staff could do a window wash one side at a time from the nice level platform.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

Any exterior maintenance would likely happen at an Amtrak facility. The closest one is outside of DC in Suburban MD.

[@samtrak1204]

@@WillsJazzLoft Through trains beween New York and Newport News are not washed at DC's car wash in Ivy City.

[@vitamaltz]

@@WillsJazzLoft they wash the windows of the Zephyr at Denver at the platform while passengers take their smoke break. It makes sense that there might not be staff at NPN to do it but surely it doesn’t have to go into a yard for a window wipe.

[@Robbi496]

I think this i the second new station for Newport News?

[@29downtheline]

@@Robbi496 It’s definitely not the first new station if you count the old C&O stations, since the “old” Amtrak station is newer than them. Amtrak also used to serve Lee Hall, in the northwestern end of the city, for a while, but hasn’t for decades, leaving the station at Lafayette Square as the city’s only option until recently!

[@Robbi496]

@@29downtheline I knew about the old C&O Station, but wasn't there another on Warwick?

[@29downtheline]

@@Robbi496 The station at Lee Hall was also on Warwick, not too far inside city limits, but I’m not aware of any others that saw Amtrak service. Not much is showing up when I try to look it up. Do you know when and in what part of the city the station existed? (Newport News is just weirdly long, so there were a bunch of stations, all not too far off Warwick Blvd/Warwick Rd/Virginia Ave/whatever that road was called at the time).

[@Robbi496]

@@29downtheline I am only aware of the old C & O station, but it seems that Amtrak listed another depot on Warwick with a different address in addition to Lee Hall?

[@29downtheline]

@@Robbi496 I can’t find anything other than Lee Hall and the station that just closed at 9304 Warwick, unfortunately.

[@Josephcavagnaro]

they should call it new newport news

[@29downtheline]

@@Josephcavagnaro I feel like I said “new Newport News” way too much when recording this! But I think they definitely should have chosen a different name for the new station. The new station (the Newport News Transportation Center) sounds almost identical to the Newport News Transit Center, the city’s main local and express bus hub downtown.

[@charles6771]

What's the speed limit on the boulevard your filming, crossing? The characteristically reckless, selfish Tidewater Region motorists have zero regard for speed limits. I drive a bus in Virginia Beach and cannot wrap my head around why?

[@29downtheline]

The speed limit on Warwick Blvd in front of the old station is 45 mph. I regularly cross a section of the same road that’s 35 mph, and sometimes cars come through waaaay faster than that. I don’t own a car, so I haven’t extensively driven in the area, but I definitely notice it as a pedestrian.

[@povertyspec9651]

Fun fact: Virginia does nothing for bicyclists

[@29downtheline]

I think it depends on where you are in the state. There are certainly some places in the state that aren’t great for bikes, but there are quite a few good bike trails throughout the state, and many localities have been installing bike lanes and routes. I’ve biked around Newport News quite a bit (I don’t own a car), and you can get pretty far on bike routes that are routed down quieter side streets. That’s not to say that Newport News is good for biking (it depends on where you are in the city), but they are at least showing a little bit of effort. Northern Virginia has also built up a sizable network of bike trails and lanes, especially around the W&OD and similar trails!

[@tyleralberico]

16:33 we don’t need to talk about that…..

[@29downtheline]

Just looked it up and apparently it’s actually 6 years late. Discussion started in 2011, and it was supposed to be done in 2018! wydaily.com/news/local/2019/01/03/this-project-has-been-in-the-design-phase-for-nearly-six-years-heres-why/

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

@@29downtheline FYI a mile of trackwork and a service facility were not part of the scope at the start. It doubled the project cost and extended the time. FYI a design contract wasnt even signed until 2013. Then the scope doubled a year into it with no funding. Engineers execute projects, reporters write articles and they are typically inaccurate. Plans were signed in 2018, advertisement was during the COVID lockdown. Phase 1 of 3 Construction contracts began with masks and social distancing in summer of 2019. The entire thing was controlled by surcharge wait times which are difficult to predict. The project consisted of three separate overlapping construction contracts.

[@catgirl_eva]

Oh. You were in Newport News. I'm sorry.

[@29downtheline]

And I’m very much still in Newport News! Sure, it’s not perfect, but it has its perks.

[@catgirl_eva]

@@29downtheline oh, I agree. My city needs a LOT of work, but in areas that aren’t around Patrick Henry Mall.

[@29downtheline]

@@catgirl_eva I think more focus should be on downtown and other areas of south Newport News, so I’m glad at least some stuff is being done (not enough, though).

[@catgirl_eva]

@@29downtheline Couldn't agree more. The part of Newport News I live in seems to be economically blighted with abandoned motels, abandoned/closed restaurants, and vape shops aplenty. I think there's at least three vape shops less than a mile apart in my area.

[@mikeymutual5489]

8:57 Maybe it's Track 1 3/4?