The Virginian-Pilot
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The city may get some federal money to help buy the Norfolk Southern right of way, the most likely route for a light-rail line. A committee of the Metropolitan Planning Organization has agreed to let Hampton Roads Transit use $6 million of federal funds toward a light-rail study and the right-of-way purchase.
The members of the planning organization will have to formally approve the use of the funds in April.
HRT is expecting an increase in transit funds through the stimulus package and wants to set aside some of that money for light-rail issues, said Tom Holden, the agency's spokesman.
"We want the flexibility to use the money when it gets there," Holden said.
About $5 million of the federal funds would help pay for the right of way and the rest would be spent on a light-rail environmental study, said Bob Matthias, assistant to the Virginia Beach city manager.
The city plans to submit a grant request today for $20 million from the state, Matthias said.
The total price for the 10.6-mile line, which bisects the city roughly parallel to Interstate 264, is $40 million.
The City Council has informally agreed to spend $10 million to buy the land. Norfolk Southern would continue to receive $5 million in utility easement payments.
"I think we're just about there," Mayor Will Sessoms said. "I feel good about it."
The city and Norfolk Southern could have a deal to buy the land in the next two months, Sessoms said.
Virginia Beach elected officials have been trying to find enough money to close the deal for the past month.
Sen. Kenneth Stolle put in a budget amendment in January requesting a total of $25 million in state mass-transit funds to help buy the land.
Between the grant request and Stolle's amendment, city officials are hoping to get the state money, Matthias said.
"One is the backup," he said. "It's belts and suspenders."
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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interesting....
interesting that HenryR already knows the schedule of LRT service that hasn't even been built yet. (will not run past midnight) So that's supposed to take care of behavior issues at the Oceanfront, the troublemakers that might have come on the train won't or will go home early and problems only develop "late"....hmmmm.. It also means that those "mid- shift" workers that might have used LRT to get to work (they're going to work when most of us are going home) won't have a ride home after midnight. Thus they'll still be in the afternoon rush hour congestion with us, I thought this thing was going to help?? Tell me again, who is going to be on this rail to nowhere?
Well
According to the other article the children of Virginia Beach are going to pay for this venture and the mega million dollar Towne Center bridge. The city schools are financially in trouble. School supplies & programs should be paid for BEFORE the luxuries. City council needs to get their priorities straight. And what about the lottery money for the schools? During this time of financial hardship on nearly everyone - Nix the lightrail & Towne Center bridge, tighten your belts Va Bch and take care of the Children first!
ltr
henry r is exactly right, i live in southern vb and whenever i ask someone about light rail, if they are against it, its always because they belive it will bring a bunch of black punks.this is so completly absurd, it makes me wonder if any of these people have been anywhere else in their lives. they would not give me their honest reply if i were black.
Loss
What city services are going to be cut while sessoms wastes millions of tax dollars on a developer payback? LRT is nothing more than a perk for developers to continue over-development of VB at the expense of taxpayers.
Replies
Squirelly,
The real behavior problem in the Resort Area isn't until after 10 P.M. LRT will stop running at Midnight. Therefore, it's impact on Behavior would be insignificant.
JM,
Construction probably won't be until at least 2013, so plenty of time for turning the economy around before the first trains - no sooner than 2015.
Virginia Beach light rail
Talks on the ROW have been going on for several years. No doubt Mr. Sessoms' election helped. The real subject is how to proceed. No new referendum is needed. Things aren't the same: light rail was a concept, there was no Town Center, etc.
The ROW purchase has a larger context. The decision comes logically from the policy defined by the approval of the "Green Line" in 1980 and its support by the City Council since then. What is the "Green Line?" It's an Urban Services Line that says " no sprawl below this line." (does anybody want that?) The boundary means a lot. It means that the city doesn't have to build the number/size of schools, roads, water and sewer lines, fire stations, etc. needed in urban areas; that there is less impact on the environment; that some agriculture can be retained; and that taxes are less than otherwise.
It means that the city is committed to what planners call "a more compact urban form." While VB isn't there yet, it is moving that way with Town Center, the new Convention Center, oceanfront renewal;and, light rail in the NS corridor. Let's proceed.
fuggetaboutit...
Just take this light rail issue and shelve it until the economy recovers will ya? This issue will still be around, and now isn't the time to pursue it when the most of the thoughts in some people's minds is how they're going to survive when they lose their job in this rotten economy. If the city mentions any sort of a tax increase____I'll let the rest of you fill that blank in...
HenryR is making an attempt
HenryR is making an attempt to avoid the real issues, like justifying why LR should even be considered, given the current state of the economy. However, both P.T. Sessoms and HenryR probably believe that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” Wait…..at TowneBank, where they are about to receive $76.5 million in bailout money……the fundamentals look very strong. Just ask TB Prez Sessoms. Even if Sessoms’ pawn, Stolle, obtains the 25 million in mass transit funds, that’s only a drop in the bucket…….Wake up Virginia Beach and hold on to your wallets!!!
HenryR
Interpret my comments as you wish. Actually I was poking fun at "govamints" short sighted planning. So tell us HenryR how is VB going to deal with the issue? Like they're "surprised" when it happens? Or are you just in denial? The potential of this occuring doesn't exactly fit the Dad,Mom and 2 1/2 kids buying overprice ice cream cones and 3/$10 T-shirts demographic does it? Maybe some very bright street light will help...
HenryR
I don't think that it is racism, because there isn't a color issue here, just an age issue. The paper has been writing lately about the gang problems with young youths at Macarthur Mall, and that they plan on having curfews. So if the light rail line is extended, wouldn't these same troublesome youths now hop on a free train and take it to Town Ctr and the Oceanfront? I say free because the train will not require you to pay to ride, seeing how it will be on an honor system only. Isn't that great?