You might call it "the little bill that could."
A proposal to study an extension of Norfolk's light rail line to near the Oceanfront somewhat unexpectedly passed the General Assembly during a largely fruitless transportation special session that ended earlier this month.
And it gained more steam in recent days when Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed it into law.
"Miracle of miracles," the bill's sponsor, Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach, said with a laugh. "I'm tickled pink."
Within 90 days of taking effect in November, the bill directs state and regional transportation officials to begin a study of the project. Money for that has not been identified, nor have project costs been determined. There is $15 million available from the state to help buy the right of way needed for the line.
So while the bill is only a first step in the process of stretching a light rail line into Virginia Beach, it is an important one in a city whose voters and politicians rejected light rail less than a decade ago.
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf called Kaine's endorsement a "pleasant surprise." "It looks like he is making a commitment to this region," she said.
Councilman John Uhrin, who represents the city's resort area, said a study will go a long way to answering the unknowns about light rail, including the cost, the route and whether rail is the best form of mass transit.
"The time is right for the city and the state to take another look at what the pros and cons are of that corridor," Uhrin said.
Hampton Roads Transit Vice President James Toscano said the bill helps advance "the needed discussion in Hampton Roads about the value of light rail, and potentially its expansion."
The Virginia Beach extension is envisioned as a 10-mile stretch from Newtown Road at the Norfolk border to the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
It would connect to The Tide, Norfolk's $232 million rail project that will run 7.4 miles from Eastern Virginia Medical Center to Newtown Road after its planned 2010 opening.
Securing federal money for mass transit can be challenging, but tying into The Tide may help the cause, said Robert Matthias, an assistant to Virginia Beach's city manager.
"The good news is it's easier to get federal funding for extension of an existing line," he said. "The bad news is it's a lot of money... and the cookie jar is fairly empty."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
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Henry has a crush on me - its cute.
Glad to see you are so taken with me Henry! LOL!
It's a start . . .
Let's see how well Norfolk does with its effort. The LRT system can be added to: it doesn't have to be built all at once, even though it would most likely be cheaper that way. Lines going from EVMS up to ODU and then on to the Naval Base would be great. Even better would be to have an elevated line that does follow I64 with a definite branch line going directly to the airport - I can see a lot of people using that. Branch lines could be created going out to the VB TCC complex and amphitheater then down to the court house. Others could be added going up Great Neck. The trick is to get the lines to where the people go to and from and placing the stations correctly. And there's another big benefit: fewer cars on the road mean less air pollution. It could turn out to be a win - win situation for all of Hampton Roads.
Further down
You refer to the Navy base and Transportation relief.
OK, and?
I stated the voters selected no to LRT due to the poor decisions of norfolk and HRT in the choice of a "starter" line. What does that have to do with the statements you claim the VM has made?
Oh Really?????
According to aalto, "200+ years ago the citizens of the United States voted to give the citizens of VB the right to vote against light rail."
Hmmmm..... I wasn't born but I had no idea light rail was even an issue in Virginia Beach 200 years ago......
re: aalto
Reread what you said about the Navy base in your "Unfortunately No" post.
Back to the facts...
Henry, You blasted me ... I quote "2. Your comment about redevelopment is flat-out wrong", yet I provided documented proof that both the chairman of HRT and the President/CEO state LRT is for economic development. Why do you change topic?
Yea so?
What is the position of VB council then?
Does the VM speak for the city now?
Is that the "official" position of VB?
Is VB looking to spending over $230+ million of tax dollars to "generate economic development" as norfolk states?
Vice Mayor Louis Jones
On at least two occassions has stated that Virginia Beach should not build light rail without the Naval base and ODU.
Statement of fact
http://www.ridethetide.com/pressroom/newsletter/Newsletter_Norfolk_LRT_April_2003.pdf
A word from Chairman Randy Wright (norfolk councilman) "Generate economic development at key sites and serve as a catalylst for increased growth among business"
No where does he state anything about reducing traffic congestion.
Per Michael Townes, President/CEO of HRT "enhance the continued development and redeveopment of the city of norfolk" (just norfolk? #1 priority)
Not once in that press release does either of the "leaders" of HRT say anything about reduction of traffic congestion.
Henry?
You must be that daft. Or can't read. I did not state that 200+ years ago citizens voted to allow light rail referenda, I stated that 200+ years ago citizens voted to give the people the right to tell government what they wanted. Do the words "of the people, by the people, and for the people" actually scare you that much?
Just because norfolk has not rezoned the land, the published intent was to encourage redevelopment along the rail line. That is a statement of fact.
Where is it published that VB is pressing norfolk for anything? Seems norfolk controls what HRT does, and HRT does what norfolk says. If there is any precondition to LRT in VB, why is that not made public?
re: aalto
Sit down and have a glass of water; you're starting to sound as looney as Reid Greenmun. (I know you're not that daft.)
1. "200+ years ago" the United States voted to require light rail referenda?!? Pray tell, what history book did you pull THAT out of?
Trains weren't even running until the 19th Century.
2. Your comment about redevelopment is flat-out wrong: Norfolk still has yet to rezone the land along their portion of the Norfolk Southern Corridor.
3. Virginia Beach is pressing Norfolk to build LRT EVMS to Naval base via ODU as a precondition for us to build.
Unfortunatly no....
We would not be branching off toward the Nval Base. Norfolk had made it clear that their choo-choo was not really intended to be a solution to transportation, but to create development incentives along the rail route. And they were hoping to entice visitors from the oceanfront into their mall. If this was to be true transportation relief, the "starter" line would indeed have been a transportation alternative, and gone to the Naval base. I-64 is the major choke-point in Tidewater, so to prove the benefit of light rail, they would have chosen the most congested problem area to resolve. Instead they choose a tourist train. VB voted to not ride the tide of failure.
hmmmm how did that happen without light rail???
Two tourists robbed at gunpoint in Virginia Beach
By Shawn Day
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 29, 2008
VIRGINIA BEACH
Police are investigating the armed robbery late Sunday of two New Yorkers walking near the Oceanfront.
The two men were walking along Pacific Avenue at 26th Street when two other men in a nearby dark area motioned for them to come over, said Margie Long, a Virginia Beach police spokeswoman.
The four exchanged small talk before one man pulled a handgun and demanded money from the two New Yorkers, Long said.
The two robbers took $246 and debit cards and ran west on 26th Street. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887).
All For Light Rail
I live in VB and I have been for light rail for the last 10+ years. My understanding of why VB voted against it was because it didn't go to NOB. If they had voted for it, we would now be branching off the main line to NOB, Hampton or Portsmouth (no tunnel traffic), etc. The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets. Sitting in traffic is not the answer. More roads is not the answer. Mass transit is the answer and this is the second step in the right direction (Norfolk took the first step). You have to start somewhere or nothing will ever get done.
Some Virginia Beach failures
VB Sportplex-What a waste of taxpayer money!
Center for the arts- Everyone knows that if you want artsy entertainment, you head to Norfolk.
Of course if the Light Rail line would run all the way to the beach and all the way to the Navel Station then it would make sense. Does this rail line go by ODU? What purpose does it serve to just go to the Eastern Virginia Medical School?
More importantly, one of the posters made a good point. This line runs East West...what about North-South?
C'mon Now.....
"Regardless of past, present, or future, the citizens voices were and are heard".........
Yes, they were heard but a lot has chanced in 10 years......!!!! 10 Years ago, light rail was just a concept with a price tag... It will now become reality in a couple of years in Norfolk and with time, arrive in Va. Beach. Other than the negative comments I have read here on PilotOnline, I have yet to hear any LARGE group(s) of Va. Beach residents complaining about the proposed light rail extension to Virginia Beach......
C'MON NOW....?
200+ years ago the citizens of the United States voted to give the citizens of VB the right to vote against light rail. The price of gas does not take that right, or that decision, away. Regardless of past, present, or future, the citizens voices were and are heard. If tata truly believes in the oath of office he took, he would give up his dictatorship rhetoric and ask the citizens if they have indeed changed their mind. The urbanized areas of Virginia Beach need to get used to it.
The elected representative needs to realize that the average joe is the one that put him there. And can remove him as well. Time to clean house and senate of the career politicians.
C'mon Now.......
10+ years ago, the citizens of Virginia Beach voted against Light Rail. 10 years later, gas prices are much higher, the economy is down and the thought of Light Rail in Virginia Beach is now becoming quite attractive.... As I see it, the only people who are complaining on this topic are those who wish to live in the PAST!!! The Norfolk/Virginia Beach area is slowly progressing. Get use to it because you cannot stop it. Other than the "anti-light rail in Virginia Beach" comments made on PilotOnline, I have yet to see any large community protests about Light Rail reported in Virginia Beach.
And to the comments made by RobertJ, truly ignorant........
The nice thing about
The nice thing about representative democracy is that every now and then it actually works as intended, allowing elected representatives step back at look at a situation with a wider perspective, maybe learn more about that situation than the average Joe usually bothers to, and make decision that may be unpopular with some, may have even barely failed a referendum vote a decade ago, yet will undoubtedly benefit the region as a whole.