The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
Hampton Roads Transit's board on Thursday voted to reduce a light-rail contract by $514,000.
The $10.9 million contract, to build and outfit a light-rail vehicle storage and maintenance facility, called for the purchase of a $1.1 million piece of equipment called a multipurpose vehicle mover.
That is being replaced with a less expensive model, HRT spokesman Tom Holden said.
HRT is partnering with the city, state and federal governments to build a $288 million starter light-rail line from the medical complex on Brambleton Avenue, through downtown, to the city line at Newtown Road.
It's expected to open in mid- to late 2010.
The board on Thursday also approved spending $19.6 million in federal economic stimulus money. The board already had committed $14 million in stimulus money for a new bus operations and administration building.
HRT received close to $34 million in direct federal stimulus aid.
The money will pay for 10 hybrid buses, seven diesel buses, service vehicles, upgrades to two transfer centers on the Peninsula, shop tools and equipment, a bus wash, retrofitting bus engines to reduce exhaust emissions, upgrades to heating, cooling and plumbing at the Hampton maintenance facility, and improvements to information management systems as well as environmental management systems.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Free money.
$288 million starter light-rail line from the medical complex on Brambleton Avenue, through downtown, to the city line at Newtown Road. Correct me if I am wrong. But thats about a 13 mile distance. So they are talking about $22 million a mile. HEY! ITS FREE MONEY, SO WHO CARES.
Until they teach their
Until they teach their driver's some basic customer service, they will never get anyone on those buses that has other options...
I am still trying to figure
I am still trying to figure out how an East West light rail will fix the North South traffic problems. The 15 people that want Light rail should pay for it. If you people would do some research you will find that all of the "GREAT" examples you are pointing to are also failing to cover their own costs. Do we really need another hole to throw our hard earned money into? I only know what my money has been wasted on in Virgina Beach. I see this as another Empty Sports Complex, Empty Convention Center, Gateway to the Oceanfront, TPC Golf Course, Town Center, and almost every other project the City has had their hands in. So you may call it progress, but if you threw your money away like they do, where would you be?
Wrong assumption
You are still focused on fixing transportation problems. LRT in norfolk and desired in vb is not to fix transporttion problems, but to create more development incentives.
Development oiented transporation is being pushed so the major campaign contributing developers can continue over-development causing more traffic problems, not less.
and people keep procreating too?
Stop it!
cato.org
"Light rail is a giant hoax that makes rail contractors rich and taxpayers poor."
"Since 1980, Portland has spent more than $2.3 billion, half the region's transportation capital funds, building light rail. Yet light rail carries less than 1 percent of Portland-area travel. That's a success?"
"Engineering, construction, and rail car companies make huge profits from light rail. Their political contributions promote new rail lines. Siemens Transportation donated $100,000 to Denver's light-rail campaign and was rewarded with a $184 million railcar contract."
Nuff said?
Portlands MAX??????
Give me a break! I lived out there also and still have family there! It "IS NOT" a good thing at all! It`s ridership has ALWAYS been low! Gangs are all over the thing in the evening and at night! Sure the busy hours ara the same time as rush hour if you really want to call them busy! Just like the busses out there for years, very very low ridership! It has NEVER and will NEVER unless things drasticly change have a ridership that will even let it break even! Yes I said never even come close to breaking even in ANY year! Urban, you need to stop trying to fool folks! You must be involved with the light rail some how some way!
Mr. Ragsdal
It seems that you have a hidden agenda here, sort of the same that Mayor Sessoms does. Care to tell us what you do for a living, and how you are going to benefit from this boondoggle. Let's get something straight. VB, Norfolk and all of Hampton Roads is not a major metropolitan area/city, so please stop comparing it to Charlotte, Portland, DC, NYC, etc. Second, this boondoggle, if it works, will only alleviate traffic on the I-264 corridor, but will do absolutely nothing for the real traffic problems that exist in our cities. Look at 64 in the morning and afternoon, it's a parking lot. Look at Military Hwy, Independence, Princess Anne Rd, Lynnhaven Pwky, etc, etc, etc.... how is this boondoggle going to fix those problems? It will however, drain all of the transportation funds from the state. So, I am a naysayer when I look at the cost to build a slow moving train, while not fixing the real problems. Put it up for a referendum for those living in VB and let us vote.
Play the game
WOW! Saved $500k. Humm...Isn't this project already OVERBUDGET by $20-$30 million?
Good thing they are going to improve the "management" systems at HRT They have th worst management ever!
Norfolk LRT still over budget by $50M
It is a good thing that the TDCHR and HRT found a way to reduce some of the costs of local light rail. However, the project is still over budget by more than $50M. What is more important to think about is what is the return on investment to the American taxpayers for the $288M being spent cost construction and the annual costs of more than $8M a year to have HRT operate the Tide? How much traffic congestion does the Tide remove from our roadways, where is the congestion removed, and how much new traffic congestion does the Tide create? Folks, the Tide travels less than 8 miles!