The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The light-rail station that will serve Norfolk State University will be moved farther away from campus, a change that ends months of controversy that began when school officials raised concerns about safety.
The change, approved Thursday by Hampton Roads Transit’s board, will cost an additional $1.45 million. However, it’s not certain where the extra money will come from.
Any cost overruns are the city’s responsibility. However, there may be enough contingency money in the project’s budget to cover it, said Stanley A. Stein, Norfolk’s assistant city manager. He added that the city and HRT are working to identify additional funding, which could also cover cost overruns.
“We don’t know yet in definitive terms if this is something the city is going to pay for,” Stein said.
HRT and the city are in the midst of building the $232.1 million starter rail line, which is due to open in early 2010. Part of the 7.4-mile route runs adjacent to NSU and includes an elevated section over Brambleton Avenue.
The new NSU location will be on the west side of Brambleton and not the east side. It costs more because it will extend over Brambleton Avenue, requiring heavier-duty material and more complicated construction, HRT Vice President Jayne Whitney said. The station could not be moved beyond Brambleton because of a bend in the track, she said.
NSU officials requested the change because they feared for students’ security with a mass-transit stop so close to campus. Michael Townes, HRT CEO and president, said the request was accommodated because “they’re a partner in this project.”
NSU officials could not be reached for comment Thursday. Several other issues raised by NSU, including parking, have not yet been resolved.
Stein said the relocation also will help accelerate the city’s plans to redevelop that side of Brambleton Avenue. The City Council recently appropriated $2.5 million to purchase property there.
However, the new site poses a different kind of safety worry, said Corey Hill, chief of public transportation for the state.
Students will now have to cross busy Brambleton Avenue to get to class. Hill said he fears they will dash across six lanes of traffic instead of walking a block to the nearest intersection.
The city is already looking at ways to address the concern, Councilman W. Randy Wright said.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Total Failure
This project is a total failure and a waste of money. How many buses can be run for 225 million? True leadership at HRT does not exist. We all know what is coming next, a heated/AC moving walkway with music over Brambleton Ave. The President of Norfolk State should be forced to resign. Norfolk, if you relect any of your Council members, you deserve what you get.
As a graduating Senior from
As a graduating Senior from NSU, I can say that this is nothing more than just another example of the University's lack of sound judgement and total disregard for what is in the best interest of the students. ODU has always had a relationship with HRT on behalf it its students who live off campus, but NSU offers no type of commuter-based transportation contract. The newest "concerns" over security are not based on any student surveying or polling. The "concerns" are those of the President, and no one else. The city and HRT should ignore NSU. If they dont want to be part of the city, don't allow them to be.
hmmm...
i notice nsu sure has been a problem child with this light rail.
wonder what their overall problem is...
norfolk' bridge
to nowhere. Where is Sara Palin when we need her. HA, as if we need HER!
safety?
During the light rail issue when VB voters rejected light rail, VB was accused of being racist for supposedly not wanting black folks from Norfolk invading the suburbs via the light rail. Now we see a majority black university expressing "security" concerns over access to their domain. The riders would be the same. Is NSU being racist?
Hey Why not?
Whats a couple of million more? At nearly fifty million a mile it seems like a bargain to me. Try asking Senator Lucas if some of her investors want some of this! Mayor Holley from Portsmouth should jump at this deal! This whole thing is going to be one of the biggest fiasco's the area has ever seen. It's your government at work Norfolk ---- be proud!
In the future ...
students will be among the riders extensively using the light rail, because the line has been extended to Virginia Beach and up to the Naval Station. Someone needs to be held accountable as to the location of the station. You can bet in the future when the rail is extended up Hampton Blvd; there will be a station on ODU's campus! C'mon, someone needs to apply some common sense and foresight!
1.45 million?
No problem. The gas tax to help fund TRT/HRT/whoevertheyarenow will just go from 5 cents per gallon to 6, or 10, or 20... well, you get the picture. You and I ARE going to subsidize this fiasco for a long time. Oops, I mean forever.
Revenue
Free parking @ Military Circle + LR stop on campus == less parking decals sold!
Opportunity for NSU Lost
Having a rail transit station is a great opportunity for many businesses or institutions. A university can reduce the number of parking spaces it has to develop and enjoy a reduction in congestion on and near campus. Now they want the LR station moved to the opposite side of Brambleton for the sake of SAFETY??! Seems that the original location would have been far safer from a pedestrian safety point of view. Also, I feel that large parking lots feel much less safe at night than a well-lit, monitored transit station. So if light rail transit is too unsafe for a college campus, will NSU next ask HRT to stop driving buses anywhere near campus?
In my opinion, decision-makers at NSU are either clueless or have some alterior motive.