The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Legislation to extend Norfolk's light rail line near the Oceanfront was one of the few bills the General Assembly passed this week during a largely unsuccessful transportation special session.
But that doesn't mean prospective riders should expect trains or tracks anytime soon.
It can take years to do planning, acquire land and assemble money needed to advance that kind of mass transit effort, transportation experts say.
Before any of that happens, money for a study of the line called for in the bill must be found. It is unclear now how the study will be funded.
Also unknown are the costs associated with the rail project in Del. Bob Tata's bill, HB6028. If built, the line would run about 10 miles, from Newtown Road near the Norfolk border to the Virginia Beach Convention Center, said Tata, R-Virginia Beach.
It would connect to Norfolk's $232 million rail project, a line known as The Tide that will run 7.4 miles from Eastern Virginia Medical Center to the Newtown Road terminus after its planned 2010 opening.
Bob Matthias, assistant to the Virginia Beach city manager, said local officials were not initially aware of the bill, but are "more than lukewarm" in their support.
The bill's success shocked Tata. "I knew we weren't going to pass any bills, so I just threw it out there and hoped it might gain some traction," he said.
To assuage concerns, Tata met with state and local Beach officials Monday and agreed to change the bill after that talk. "Even though it doesn't mandate anything or appropriate any money, it gives this project a nudge," said Charles "Chip" Badger, deputy director of the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
"It's a significant step forward in terms of public transportation in Hampton Roads," said James Toscano, Hampton Roads Transit vice president of public affairs.
Still, many challenges exist.
One is Virginia Beach's effort to acquire right of way that would be needed for such a line. Another is finding project money; Tata's bill mentions private contractors and federal government resources.
Before becoming law, the Tata bill must be considered by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, whose hopes for the special session were grander than light rail legislation. Kaine hasn't decided if he will sign the bill.
"I don't think that the bill is something that would represent real progress on transportation," said Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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What Reid and the VBTA Don't Get
Transportation has changed each century. The 19th century brought us trains and steamships. The 20th century brought us cars and airplanes. So according to Reid, the 21st century will bring us...more of the 20th century?!?
No, oil production limits and emissions caps are going to change the way we do Transportation yet again. That is going to mean a much greater reliance on mass transit and rail.
we should wait for $6 gas?
to finally get our collective act together? Per Tata's bill---At least it's a start. Please remember, there are "centers" of employment in the region such as Norfolk's and Portsmouth's downtowns(real ones with courthouses and office buildings), shipyards, and if things go well we can soon begin planning spurs to ODU, the Naval Bases, the airport----we will never break our addiction (to oil) until we admit we have it!
For those who remember the vote
I think I remember when the vote on this issue was done that the results were close. The no won by a very small margin. I know I voted yes and having lived in many large cities was shocked and appalled at the no votes. The only valid no reason I could see was the fear of it backing up current traffic more than it already is. Raising the rail solves that reason. The vote was done just about the same time the freight rail line was being deactivated. This line ran in the right direction and was open land already prepped for rail. The vote was perfectly times to take advantage of this land. I have yet to hear one good reason why it's a bad idea besides money.
Reid
Your stuck in the present and the past. It's called change. Just a hundred years ago horses were still considered ideal transportation. Trains are a good thng. It's just different from what you know.
Same flawed logic - our jobs arenot centered in downtown Norfolk
This statement is the problem; "Housing and property costs in urban core areas will skyrocket as citizens will move closer to their place of employment." Once again - the majority of jobs in the Southside of Tidewater are not found in any urban center - they are service sector jobs that are spread all over the place. Light rail is far too expensive to replace roads and cars to serve the jobs in our region. If people move closer to their jobs they will still be living all over the region - because the service sector jobs are all over the region.
Anyone who say to trains
Anyone who say to trains has never seen what a great source of transportation they are. Yes, we need buses to take people to a light rail pick up point, which translates into very short bus rides. I try to use mass transit anytime it is convenient; so make sure it is convenient to as many as possible.
A shift
Daniel causey you see the economic impact gas prices truely have! There's a truth behind suburban sprawl, and that is that it was built upon the automobile! Which is fueled by GAS. Mass transportation will be to us now, what the interstate system was in the Eisenhower days. Light rail will work at gas prices reach to 5 dollars a gallon like it has in all Europe for many years now, do you see any sprawl there?? As for this area being a service sector area and spread out...look at the logic. Every area has to have an economic base to support any service sector jobs. We have the ports, the Navy bases, Downtown, universities, and tourism to name a few. Those working in these jobs will be forced to move closer to their jobs or change their job, which will in turn effect where the services are needed. All service sector jobs ALWAYS follow the economic base, be preparred to see a universal shift across America
Just like all the
Just like all the intelligent people said - As soon as The Tide is a go, Virginia beach will have to add to it. Congrats to Norfolk for FINALLY forcing Virginia Beach in to the 1980s, maybe one day they will catch completely up to the rest of the world.
Silly
You can build all the park and rides you want, but the choo-choo will only go down the tracks. Light rail is usless without an effective bus system to get riders to the stations. Based on HRT's record, they will never be able to figure that out. The MAX is a much better alternative since a bus is not stuck on tracks, but can go where the people are. Don't was money on silly trains, look to BRT or some alternative that is capable of going places where there are not train tracks.
honesty
There are plenty of people living in poverty in Va. Beach's city limits. The possibility of some poor riders visiting is not the reason Va. Beach leaders don't want light rail.
Ask the city leaders why the Barberton neighborhood lacked the bare essentials until the 80's. Or why the Burton Station neighborhood never did get city services. Or ask why Union Kempsville High was built with funds raised by parents of students wishing to attend high school close to home, instead of with public funds. Gee, just ask them why the city exist in the first place.