Va. Beach council poised to help pay for light-rail study

VIRGINIA BEACH

After two weeks of furious lobbying, Mayor Will Sessoms likely has the six City Council votes needed to give Hampton Roads Transit $244,800 to move the Beach's light-rail study forward.

The $6.6 million study has slowed because HRT is almost out of money for it. The City Council, scheduled to vote on the funding request Tuesday, had been under the impression that HRT was paying for it until agency officials asked earlier this month for city money needed to get a nearly $1 million federal grant.

Five people - Sessoms and Councilmen Glenn Davis, Harry Diezel, John Uhrin and Jim Wood - said they will vote to approve the money.

Councilwoman Barbara Henley, a light-rail supporter, hinted she will join them but said she will make a final decision Tuesday. She said the city's comprehensive plan is built around increasing transit options, which the study is investigating.

"If we were to stop looking at transit, that means our comp plan is not valid," she said.

Vice Mayor Louis Jones and Councilmen Bill DeSteph and Bob Dyer said they will vote against the funding.

Councilwomen Rosemary Wilson and Rita Sweet Bellitto said they are undecided. Bellitto was appointed by the council to fill the remaining term of Ron Villanueva, who is now a state delegate. Her first meeting is Tuesday.

Council members lamented the timing of HRT's request. The city and its school division are facing an $84 million budget shortfall. City Manager Jim Spore said the city can come up with the $244,800 from a contingency fund.

The study is looking at the feasibility and environmental impact of extending the Norfolk Tide system across Virginia Beach to the Oceanfront. Without the city money, HRT would not get the federal money, and the study would halt, officials said.

The city is also trying to complete a $40 million deal to buy the old Norfolk Southern rail line for a possible light-rail corridor. The state has pledged $20 million but has not delivered the money.

Sessoms said that not giving HRT the money to keep the study moving would send a bad message to the state.

"I sure don't want to give them excuses not to fund that $20 million," he said.

He also portrayed the Navy, specifically Oceana Naval Air Station's commanding officer, Capt. Mark Rich, as a light-rail proponent.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Sessoms said he'd had lunch with Rich recently.

"The first thing on his agenda was we want to be tied to light rail," Sessoms told the City Council. "Oceana, commanding officer, we need to be tied into light rail."

Rich had a different recollection. He said light rail wasn't the first thing they talked about and didn't remember saying, "We need to be tied into light rail."

"I don't recall that exact combination of words," Rich said. "The Navy is not trying to influence the city of Virginia Beach on light rail and is not trying to define the solution."

He added, "We certainly support initiatives that go toward reducing traffic and making commutes easier and safer and that ultimately goes to military readiness.... A light rail that serves Oceana would certainly be of value to us."

Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122,aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com