THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120183
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Free trolley bus service between the Naval Hospital, Portside and Downtown is a good idea.
Thousands of hospital employees who come to work every day in Portsmouth see little more of the city than Effingham Street. The proposed midday trolley rides could encourage them to take a different look at the city, to use the banks and other services, to enjoy the restaurants and entertainment.
In addition, the trolley could provide transportation for visitors arriving by ferry or docking at the Downtown marina. The free ride could encourage them to venture farther uptown, to go beyond the first couple of blocks of the business district.
As former City Manager George Hanbury was fond of saying, we need to create an ambience Downtown. Ferry boats and trolley buses add just such charm to the waterfront.
Now that the city has decided to run the buses, the next step is publicizing the project and enticing Naval Hospital people and others to use it.
Perhaps Downtown merchants can offer specials or stage weekly Naval Hospital events with two-for-one coupons or free entertainment for lunch. Certainly if the city is going to spend $12,000 on this experiment, everybody must go a step further to ensure its success.
It's another time when the city, its citizens and the Naval Hospital must work together for the good of all. by CNB