Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Cost overruns and delays to build Norfolk's light-rail system are threatening this city's proposed project, giving ammunition to skeptics, putting proponents on the defensive and eroding support from those in the middle.
"If there was a vote today, it wouldn't pass," Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Louis Jones said. He said the council's support for light rail is "softening."
Norfolk's troubles come at a critical time in the Beach's light-rail aspirations. The city is working to close a $40 million deal for a railroad right of way identified for light rail, though state and federal money has yet to come through. Beach leaders have bought land for a train station at Town Center. And much of the city's future growth planning revolves around extending Norfolk's line from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront.
A light-rail feasibility study is under way. The City Council has not voted on the project.
Beach leaders who support light rail, including Mayor Will Sessoms and Councilman Jim Wood, chair of the Hampton Roads Transit board, have gone on the offensive, saying the city's light-rail project won't move forward under HRT President Michael Townes. Four HRT board members, including Wood and Beach Councilman John Uhrin, have sent a letter to Townes asking him to resign. The City Council is drawing up a resolution along those lines that's expected to be considered next month in an effort to put public pressure on the HRT board.
Getting rid of Townes would be one way for the Beach to distance its light-rail project from the negative perception tainting Norfolk's and reassure its own jittery taxpayers.
Beach officials are also saying the city does business differently from the way Norfolk does.
"Perceptually, it's hurting our opportunity here in Virginia Beach," Councilman Glenn Davis said. "In reality, we do things very differently." He cited contract and oversight differences.
Meanwhile, critics of the Beach project say Norfolk's experience reinforces the need for a referendum and casts doubt on what the project will cost. Beach voters rejected light rail in a 1999 vote.
"There's no way after all this that they're going to go out and tell the public they won't get a chance to co sign on the note for light rail," said John Moss, chairman of the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance, a group that favors a public vote on light rail.
Moss said that given Norfolk's experience, it will be hard to trust cost estimates that will come from the HRT study that is under way.
The projected price of the Norfolk line has soared from $232 million to about $340 million, a 47 percent increase that angry officials said they weren't told about.
"Whenever they give you a number, what faith will you have in that number?" Moss said. "Very little, I think."
At the very least, Beach officials said they are learning some valuable lessons from their neighbor.
"We'll have the real numbers that Norfolk will experience to look at," Councilwoman Barbara Henley said. "Our decision is a year a way, and a lot can happen. Everybody will certainly be more on their toes now."
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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The VBTA are really getting
The VBTA are really getting to you aren't they Mike? You can't stand the fact that such an organization has had the impact that it has in reference to proposals of higher taxes and fees as well as developer boondoggles such as The Sportsplex, The Hilton 31st street, and future boondoggles such as Laskin Road corridor, Newtown Road corridor and the grandaddy of them all...light rail for VB. And all you can come up with is the same cut and paste 'John Moss got less than 16% of the vote'. These guys are pointing out the obvious and putting the squeeze on your little empires that you are getting nervous. Try coming up with something a little more original than the less than 16% of the vote Mike. I am getting bored.
MB Posts Replies, Apparently at Work
Some of us post to these articles at home prior to work or later upon return from daily duties. To post while at work could mean immediate dismissal. Those retired or otherwise self-employed have no such concern. MB tends to post during the core of the normal work day. As such, one could conclude that his flailing attempts to defuse or otherwise render moot all discussions contrary to the tone of the community are some of his primary duties coming out of one of the mirrored phallus symbols lying at the terminus of I-264 at the resort area. Take his comments for what they are - spewing propaganda for the few, pushing projects for even fewer. We all have jobs to accomplish, even Mr. MB. Wonder how he spends the other 16% of his time, laughing at his own posts? Nuff said!
I asked Mr. Barrett...
....for his job title and position with the City. So far, no response that I can locate. Anybody know what his job is, who pays his salary?
Mary
As I understand it Mr. Barrett was a former assistant to the VB city manager. He talks a little like he still holds such a position, but he is now CEO of Runnymeade Corporation which is a commercial developer in the Tidewater area. This is why Mr. Barrett pitches his mantra of build it and they will come. Light rail is probably the granddaddy of them all as he and his comrades stand to make a bundle on transit oriented development if the project is approved (which I believe it unofficially has), as well as his spin we should approve higher taxes as well as taxpayer money for public-private ventures where the only return on investment goes to developers vice the taxpayers. He is a master of turning the concept of higher taxes and fees into something majestic that we should all embrace with open arms as well as checkbooks and sing Kum bah ya. If you dare to disagree with a tax increase or fees on anything, you are forever branded a Grover Norquist, no tax pledge, cut the arms and legs off of government, less-than-16%-of-the-vote, VBTA anti tax zealot. Did I leave anything out?
Nope ...
Other than the fact that Mike Barrett vacations with Beach City Manager Jim Spore, that pretty much covers it. Well ... that and the sad truth that Mike Barrett is one of those appointed regional government weenies that helped run SPSA into massive debt.
Cogent Message?
The irony of the posts by the transportation chairman for the VBTA is two fold; first, the official position of the organization on light rail is neutral, yet their spokesman keeps up an irrational tirade against it even before it is, and second, since light rail stimulates transit oriented commercial development which increases the tax base and therefore lowers tax rates, he is actually working against what the VBTA claims to be for, that is, reduced taxes for owners of residential real estate. In fact, even the President of the organization, when he ran for Mayor and got less than 16% of the vote, claimed that one of the best tactics to lower real estate tax rates was to stimulate economic development. So it is no wonder that long time observors of the decline of influence on the VBTA can only laugh at its internal divisions and its inability to develop a cogent message on any topic, much less light rail.
Saleman Mike's BIG lie - heep repeating it
Folks, here is one on Salesman Mike's BIG LIES - he keep regurgitating this Developer sales pitch; "Since light rail stimulates transit oriented commercial development which increases the tax base and therefore lowers tax rates,..". Annnnt! Wrong. THIS is the bogus con job being sold by guys like Mike - guys in the Deevelopment Lobby seeking to fool government with promises of pay offs that simply fail to happen. Ask yourself this, with all the urban development in Virginia Beach, have taxes decreased??? Gee ... no, they haven't. Because spending increases and City Council borrows and spends more an more to subsidize politically influential Developers, Bankers, law Firms, and Oceanfront Hotel owners. Folks, the days of easy creift to fund the promised hundreds of millions of TOD are - gone! Poof. Big projects are being cancled right and left - because Developers with BIG DREAMS of personal riches can't find the suckers to loan them the money anymore. Wake up and smell the coffee folks, the used car salesman are selling yesterday's con job in today's bleak financial reality.
The purpose of the light rail..
First of all, I support the Light Rail system throughout the seven cities. Most of you are not seeing the big picture nor the benifits of LRT because you hate to see your beloved,so called "surburban city", modernized beyond the 1980's . You are forgetting that we - the military members and civil servants are one of the big reasons that this area has'nt had an impact from, "The Recession". We stimulate the economy in hampton roads and we support the LRT because we need it.
I didnt see any of you at the meetings in the VB Convention Center but I see alot of complaints and bickering about taxes, crime incleases, blah , blah , blah, blah , blah. I am from Chicago , I can show you what a surburb looks like. I love VA Beach but this city has not identity. VB is just an over populated city with nothing to do until summer.
Look beyond your fears and see the true intentions of the LRT. The LRT will prove effective and also allow hampton roads the market for a Professional Sports Team!- If you were at the meetings you would know these things!!!
I have been at the meetings at the Convention Center.
Hum, you paint with a broad brush those that don't share your views on massively expensive light rail spending. As far as wasting billions on TOD developer schemes in hopes of marketing a major sports team - good grief, perhaps you need to retrun to Chicago. Here, we don't have the money to pay for such non-needed luxuries. In case you haven't noticed, the economy is not in very good shape and taxes levied on Beach families in Virginia Beach are not helping us deal with these hard times - the percentage of homes in the Beach that are "upside down" is the highest in the nation for a city of our size. We have real NEEDS and huge budget short falls. This was discussed at the budget meetings I attended at the convention center. So, my friend from Chicago, maybe you can afford to pay higher taxes for foolish light rail because you want a professional sports team, but many Beach families cannot - nor is it appropriate for our gas taxes intended for transportation improvements to be spent on such things.
I also demand wheel chair access at each and every stop
Besides what I demanded earlier on this comment section, I also would expect wheelchair access at each and every stop as well as a civil servant to assist me in getting onboard and exiting! How can you tax me for this light rail without me having access? Also, where will the ambulances go if I have my periodic asthma and diabetic attacks?