Beach council split on money for light-rail study

VIRGINIA BEACH

A sometimes angry, sometimes resigned City Council was split Tuesday on a request from new Hampton Roads Transit chief Philip Shucet for about $245,000 to finish a now-delayed light-rail feasibility study for the city.

The council previously thought HRT would pay for the study, now estimated to cost $6.6 million, without city money.

Two council members said they won't support giving HRT money, four said they reluctantly would, and four said they needed time to digest the news. HRT is asking for a decision at the Feb. 23 City Council meeting.

The city money, which Shucet called "critical," is needed to match part of a $1.2 million federal grant that would keep the study going. Without it, the study would come to a halt, possibly ending the quest for light rail in the Beach.

Some council members said that was too great a risk to take.

"I'm not at all happy with having to come up with $245,000," Councilman and HRT board member John Uhrin said, "but I still believe that the results of the study are important for the city."

Mayor Will Sessoms and Councilmen Glenn Davis and Jim Wood, chair of the HRT board, agreed.

Bob Dyer and Bill DeSteph said they won't support giving city money. Dyer called for the whole project to be delayed because of the bad economy.

Harry Diezel, Barbara Henley, Louis Jones and Rosemary Wilson said they need more time to decide.

"This is a lot of change for us to assimilate," Henley said. "We've been telling the public that the city wouldn't have to pay. All of this has now changed."

The HRT study is looking at extending the Norfolk Tide line to the Oceanfront. The city has a deal with Norfolk Southern Corp. to buy a 10.6-mile right-of-way for $40 million.

City Manager Jim Spore said the city could use $244,800 from its contingency fund for the study.

Some council members indirectly criticized departed HRT chief Michael Townes, who they said told them HRT would not need city money for the study. Shucet replaced Townes. Council members also wanted to know how the project cost climbed from $4.3 million to $6.6 million and why they weren't told.

Shucet said the $4.3 million represented only the consultant's cost.

"What you apparently were not given was project management, legal services, ridership studies," and several other costs, Shucet said.

So far, about $1.5 million has been spent on the study, money that is almost gone, he said. If the City Council approves the money, HRT could access the federal grant in April.

The study is now estimated to be finished between August and December 2011. The previous finish date was late 2010.

Shucet also faced questions about how HRT will come up with the $5 million the agency pledged to help buy the railroad right of way.

"We will keep our commitment," he said. "I wish I could tell you with specificity how, but we will keep it."

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