The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Federal officials announced on Monday that they will do all they can to make up for a shortfall in money previously pledged for the city's light rail starter line that is now under construction.
Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson awarded the city $18.9 million toward the $128 million the government promised for the project.
The FTA had budgeted a $57 million contribution to the project for fiscal year 2008, but Congress appropriated only $23 million. With Monday's announcement, this year's federal share is about $15 million less than anticipated.
Simpson said the project is so important that he went to the secretary of transportation and the White House to find the extra money. He said the remaining shortage is not significant in a multimillion-dollar, multiyear project. The federal government will come through on its promised $128 million share, he said.
"I haven't seen a project anywhere around the county like this that is more deserving," Simpson said.
He made the round-trip drive between Washington and Norfolk for a one-hour visit to announce the award.
"This shows the federal government knows the importance of the project," said U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk, who was also joined by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, at the event announcing the funding.
"Thank you for finding the money we were desperate to have," Drake said.
Simpson said he does not know why Norfolk's light rail allocation was reduced so much, especially considering other rail projects experienced about a cut in funding of only 10 percent. He said he thought it was done in error.
"I have no way of knowing why they made that decision," said Drake, who voted against the spending bill.
City Councilman W. Randy Wright, who has championed light rail in Norfolk, said he is relieved the extra money was found.
"This is good," Wright said. "We don't have to wonder as much when we'll be getting the money back."
The projected total cost of the 7.4-mile line is $232.1 million. The city has dedicated $33 million, and the state will contribute $31.9 million. About $39.2 million is coming from other federal sources.
The Tide is scheduled to start carrying passengers in January 2010, with service at 7-1/2-minute intervals during peak periods. The route goes from Eastern Virginia Medical Center to Newtown Road, passing through downtown and along an existing freight rail corridor parallel to Interstate 264.
It will have 11 stations and four park-and-ride lots, and it is projected to carry 6,000 passengers a day the first year and 12,000 in 2026.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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here we go again
Let's see first it was Harbor Park, then it was Macarthur Center...and now it's light rail. I don't think this pervasive skepticism is helping Hampton Roads continue to grow and catch up with the rest of urban America. It's so rampid here, it's almost an expression of low self-esteem. Instead of complaining about something that has yet to be built, mind you, tell us your solutions. Naysayers are one of the very reasons why Norfolk and the rest of the area are so behind. They'll just have to be dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.
No one is saying that light-rail is the ultimate solution to traffic problems, but remember, this Norfolk line is STARTER line, which is the foundation of an eventual mass transit system. Being content with an improved bus system is not going to give us new options for getting around, because they are subject to traffic jams like any other vehicle. However rail transit can bypass traffic, of course. So in a sense there's no comparison.
Plan Ahead
I just hope there are plans to eventually extend the line to the Oceanfront. One day someone will arrive in Norfolk on a cruise ship, hop on the the train to the oceanfront, spend some time at the beach, then return to Norfolk and do some shopping. After spending some time and money in Hampton Roads they will return to the Cruise ship and head off to the next port. Maybe we will actually become a destination people will want to visit.
Otherwise, they will hop on the train and head to Newtown Road and see the traffic mess at 64 and 264 - woohoo!
coolguy81...Now I understand
Since the bus service is operated in a "horrible" manner; the logic here is to give the same management team the responsibility for construction and operation of a grossly overpriced ($31M/lane mile, around 8X cost of a roadway lane mile). I see now. Makes complete sense. Well, maybe since running a bus service is so difficult they will do better managing a little 7.4 mile line to no where. They've started out well by not obtaining easements and right of ways leading to an embarrassing and costly battle with NSU. I'm sure they will operate this blunder in an economical manner as well. That'll get everybody driving to the station. But wait...if they have to drive to the station....we haven't really taken any cars of the road have we??
Support For Light Rail & Ding, Ding, Ding..
I am in support of light rail, to the the far reaches of the region. And I think they should adopt this song for advertising..to advocate it's use.
"Clang ,clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings as we started for Huntington Dell.
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings as we glided for Huntington Lake."
The Trolley Song
Judy Garland (it's very catchy) LOL
StevenC
I guess you missed the article that came out about a year ago I believe, that explained the plight of a married couple that lived near Newtown and road the bus to work near town center. It routinely took them 2 hours to get a couple miles, and the frequently were late or absent because of the terrible bus service. The HRT bus line is a joke if you are really depending on it for anything, and that is why noone rides it unless they have absolutely no other option. A light rail line likely would not have such inadequacies. I would gladly ride a train, but Id probably bicycle through a blizzard before depending on HRT buses to get me any where.
NORFOLK & TIDEWATER, VA STREETCARS
Streetcars once operated in both Norfolk and Portsmouth, and there once were two electric (interurban) routes between downtown Norfolk and the VB Oceanfront. Additionally, Hampton and Newport News were also served by streetcars. The Norfolk lines were the last of the Tidewater, VA electric lines to be replaced by buses, having endured through WWII. Not only was the rolling stock old [some of the cars were second-hand from other properties], but Virginia Transit did not obtain any of the newer streetcars which had come upon the transit scene in the mid-1930's. Too, the City of Norfolk - following other cities nationwide - desired to rid the streets of fixed-rail transit service. Thusly, all of these factors combined hastened the demise of VTC trolley service. The new TIDE line will follow to some extent a portion of an old VTC rail line north of CBD/Norfolk, coupled with a segment of the old Norfolk Southern RR line east of downtown Norfolk. This line extends to within a few blocks of the VB Oceanfront, and was the focus of 1989/1999 attempts to restore passenger rail service between Norfolk-VB in the mode of LRT.
So just who are these people?
Just exactly who are all these people who will be riding the Blight Rail? If they are so stressed by gas prices, etc; WHY ARE THEY NOT RIDING THE BUSSES THAT ARE RUNNING NOW?? What will be the new motivation to ride a bus on rails over riding bus on wheels? Why do I constantly see 90% empty busses driving all over Norfolk if there are all these people crying for mass transit? Busses are mass transit.
Reading the last comment by
Reading the last comment by aalto about Town Center, I am reminded of my favorite sage, Yogi Berra, who is reported to have said...It's too crowded, no one goes there anymore. Point is, just because we offer a more urban lifestyle around the light rais stations does not mean we will not have the suburban lifestyle to continue to offer to those who want a half acre of land and a house in the middle. And of course we already have a semi urban environment at the Beach. A first class city offers a variety of lifestyles, and it is to that diversity of housing types to which we should aspire. I believe the market will support that and the areas around the starter line which already includes town center could include high value multi use projects at other stops. One only has to visit the many cities that have incorporated this style of development in their strategic plans to see how the new urbanism can grow and prosper.
The Light Rail Is Cheaper In Reality Than Previous Estimates?
By over half? I'm hoping I interpreted this part of the comment correctly..Although I'm not going to attempt to verify Henry's facts, he seems to know what he is talking about, so now I'll say this.. Can't Va Beach vote on it again, since the estimated cost has reduced by half in reality? Unless there is an amount of validity to some "other reasons", that I have heard that "smells" strongly of exclusionism..I concede that Va Beach is not Norfolk..but seems like it still may be cheaper as well there..Maybe buying the property needed there is a lot more than Norfolk. Of course I am guessing. Any real estate I have bought has been in Chesapeake. And it is a long way from Newtown Rd to the Oceanfront.
It Ain't 1999
Virginia Beach opponents, and even Mike Barrett, are still stuck refighting the 1999 referendum campaign. That proposal was over $69 million per mile and sank under it's own weight.
Norfolk's Starter Line is budgeted at $31.4 million per mile, 55% less. The 1999 loss forced HRT back to the drawing board, and they came up with a realistic proposal. Comparing what's on the table now to 1999 is apples vs. oranges.
In addition, Virginia Beach is now facing buildout north of the Green Line. The Comprehensive Plan envisions urban pockets in the Strategic Growth Areas, a process that would be greatly boosted by LRT. (No, Mike, forget about your R&HA crack pipe dream.)
Speaking of referendum campaigns, everyone remember 2002? Yes, we're still facing non-attainment status under the Clean Air Act. Given it's sanctions, the only Federal transportation construction funding we'll qualify for is LRT. Light rail trains run on electric; hybrid feeder buses primarily do, too.