Information center for The Tide light rail line opens

most of the opposition I've seen, since news of this Light Rail broke months back, on the Pilot, if you read between the lines is simply all about change. because buildings will be shifted around, initially, and some people may have to move, at the end of the day, to make way for these routes. there will still be plenty of roads for those addicted to automobile transporation to travel through. we're spending millions to keep up these roads that aren't doing their job, in ways few are really willing to look at, and that is somehow okay. just keep adding on lanes to highways and arterial roads, beyond all belief, and hope that the problem will go away. that simply is no solution, just a temporary band-aid addressing the underlying symptoms ...

"the low incomes ... are not enough to adequately support big city lifestyles" are you really serious. low incomes is what the big city lifestyle is all about this area is unique in that, given it's huge population, there aren't even more low income, or perhaps low income and poor are two distinct realities here, given that everyone's income is lower. that's funny. any city, any "real" or "true" city you visit has a large amount of poorer residents, perhaps you choose not to see those neighborhoods or stay in the higher income areas, or in the case of New York, they're dispersed among with the rich who still live in the city and haven't left for the suburbs and exurbs as is the case in most areas but nonetheless. wow, there is nothing wrong with quality public transporation, and nothing wrong with experimenting at least Norfolk is making some inroads into solving the transportation issues we have here.

I love reading the comments in the Virginian Pilot online because it reminds me that at the heart of our problems here in Hampton Roads are the small minds of its residents. "If it's worked for the past 100 years, it will work for 100 more." These people seem to forget that we're no longer idling down dirt paths in our Model T Fords. Times change and we have to be willing to change with them. Kudos to Norfolk for taking that important first step in saying "We need viable public transportation alternatives because we cannot build our way out of our transportation problems." Now, because Norfolk dared, Virginia Beach is fervently looking to connect in. Suddenly, our "Tide to Nowhere" could be going to Town Center and the oceanfront... and those people could be coming to our Military Highway stores and our downtown... all without congesting our roads. What a concept!

If we lined up one dollar bills on edge for seven miles and lit them on fire it would cost us less than this foolish light rail to no where. What are the planners and backers going to say when ridership of this foolish little train doesn't even come up to a tenth of their estimates. As far as Norfolk being a mecca of business and entertainment, be serious. Norfolk is a poorly planned money pit full of white elephants and huge waste of taxpayers money. The low incomes of the area are not adequate enough to support a "big city" life style. Living in a high rise and hearing your neighbors above, below, and beside you every moment your in your apartment is not my idea of the American Dream. Norfolk is, has been and always will be a city of failures and wannabes. This tide information center is just one of many examples of stupidity in charge.

Some people just can't imagine that the city they live in can be all that it can be. Who would have ever thought downtown Norfolk would be what it is 15 years ago? It did take a vision. It did take plans. Things are happening in downtown Norfolk that do not happen by accident. Light rail has been part of the vision and has been a multi-year effort and struggle. Now an information center opens to help residents learn about the project and become familar with it, and the complainers come out like cockroaches. If there was no information center, the complainers would soon be complaining about the lack of information about light rail. Keep up the progress, Norfolk!

I want to give a big shout-out to Urban Planner for a voice of reason (rarely seen on these discussion boards). Thank you!

I guess never of the folks here understand the principles of urban planning.Taught by all major universities with planing schools. Planning starts with a vision and vision that implemented. Implemented by great neighborhoods and investment in public infrastructure, to generate investment. For sustainability, and connecting great neighborhoods, the light rail project is so critical for the long term viability of norfolk and hampton roads.

Living in the city is not about just day to day keep the taxes down, but investing in community, with great urban environments for a diverse community. Norfolk like great cities like Portland, Charlotte, Louisville have this vision.

If not you can live in a city that is disfunctional and losing focus of the city RICHMOND.

The entire concept is a waste. Where are all the thousands of people going to come from? Norfolk wasnt its choo-choo for a developemt incentive. They said so. No discussion regarding traffic congestion. If traffic was the issue, the choo-choo would go to the Naval Base. Where traffic congestion is obvious. No, norfolk wants the taxpayer to assist in development of areas they could not entice builders to develop. Listen up vb council, citizens said no to light rail...overwhelmingly. Do not force your citizens to ride the tide of failure.

I actually like the rail system plans - but there can be no doubt, our city government spends way too much money on way too many unnecessary things. Personally, I believe far too many of these expenditures are made in order to provide jobs or sponsor programs for the friends or relatives of city officials. Do we really need an information center to trumpet the coming rail system? -- Or isn't it enough simply to build the rail and get it running? Do we really need city employees walking around in uniform to "welcome" visitors or provide assistance to residents? Why is big government spending and dependency so encouraged? Enough with the feel good programs and boondoggle expenditures.

Is this a permanent info center or something that is just open for a day or a week? If it's permantent then this is a huge waste of tax dollars and a demonstration of the waste that will be the "Tide". Do the planners of this really see crowds of people lining up at the door to get information of this seven mile rail? So do the math, we have the cost of the lease or purchase price of the center, the cost to employee someone to stay there, the cost of maintaining the center and the utilities expense. Who's relative or friend needed a job or needed to rent or un-load a building? I'd say they're not getting off to a good start if this will be indicative of how they'll throw money around. I'm sure we'll see plenty more examples of huge waste with this project.

a picture of a black hole so people can see where their money is going!