Virginia’s first light rail system will open this Friday – right here in Norfolk. The Tide is a 7.4 mile line that stretches from Newtown Road to Fort Norfolk and includes 11 rail stations. This weekend, there is no charge to ride The Tide.
Perhaps the biggest issue facing Hampton Roads Transit, the regional entity operating the light rail line, is that of safety. It’s been a long time since Norfolk had anything like streetcars, so trying to educate the public, especially drivers, on how to co-exist with the rail cars is important. Already there have been several incidents of vehicles colliding with the trains.
On the Ride the Tide website you will find safety information for adults, teens, kids, and more. The biggest thing? Just pay attention to what’s going on around you.
I’m hoping to find some time this weekend to take a spin on the Tide. As I don’t live anywhere near any of the stations, it’s going to be a park-and-ride thing for me, mainly to satisfy my curiosity. I hope others will, too.
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VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I thought about going over there also and riding the Tide. Mostly because I wanted to see if some one talking on their cell phone or texting while driving runs into it. :->
Really though I lived in Atlanta for years and road the marta everywhere my car only left the parking garage when I went places out of town. If I still lived in Atlanta I would still be taking it because the monthly marta card is nothing compared to just one fill up for my car now.
You should come over and ride 🙂