Norfolk's light rail gets the green light

Norfolk’s Light rail cleared its final government hurdle Saturday as a deadline for objections passed. Next up: a signing ceremony and the awarding of contracts. (Courtesy photo)

By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK

For years, light rail existed only in planning documents and on city wish lists. Now, it’s real.

How real? Federal transit officials are coming to town Monday to hand over a bundle of cash to build it.

Not real enough? Construction is scheduled to start in November.

The $232.1-million starter light rail line cleared the final hurdle in Congress on Saturday .

In early 2010, “The Tide” will begin moving passengers along a 7.4-mile route from Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown and along an existing freight rail corridor to Newtown Road at the Virginia Beach city line. It will have 11 stations and is projected to carry 7,130 to 11,400 passengers a day.

Many wondered whether that day would ever come – even those closest to the project.

“It’s hard to believe this day is here; I’m beside myself,” said Councilman W. Randy Wright, who shepherded it through technical, financial and political reviews for nearly a decade. “I’m almost speechless.”

“Look around America – you don’t see many cities our size getting rail projects,” he added. “Certainly, we’ve beat the odds. At many times, it seemed like insurmountable odds.”

Hampton Roads Transit’s original plan was to run the train all the way to the Virginia Beach oceanfront, but Beach voters rejected the idea and the Beach council backed out. Norfolk decided to proceed on its own.

Then federal rules changed, and the project was basically put on hold for three years while authorities scrutinized the cost, the ridership and the benefits. What resulted is the least expensive light rail project, in cost per mile, put up for approval by the Federal Transit Administration.

“We’re due a celebration,” Wright said.

It will start Monday with a signing ceremony for $128 million in federal money for construction. An additional $33 million will come from the city, $31.9 million from the state and $39.2 million from other federal sources. If there are cost overruns or upgrades, Norfolk will have to pay for them. Monday’s festivities will also include a lunch, an evening party and street banners, among other things. Downtown businesses pitched in to pay for some of the celebration.

“Norfolk has taken a very bold leadership role, not for its own well-being only but for the well-being of the region,” said Cathy Coleman, president of the Downtown Norfolk Council.

Although the rail line can succeed on its own, according to FTA calculations, the goal is to expand it into other parts of Norfolk and into adjacent cities.

“Our core city of Norfolk recognized this regional transportation effort had to start,” Coleman said. “It helps put us on the map as a progressive city. It elevates our stature as a progressive region.”

Extensions to the Norfolk Naval Base, Old Dominion University and Norfolk International Airport will be considered. Opinions of light rail may be softening in Virginia Beach since the 1999 referendum, although the Beach council has not formally discussed the possibility of an extension there.

Since the vote, MacArthur Center became established and residential development boomed in downtown Norfolk, and Town Center was built in Virginia Beach.

Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf said she’s heard from businesspeople, particularly around Town Center, who want light rail, as well as from residents.

“Our demographics are changing; we’re having more people come from other parts of the U.S. who are used to riding transit,” said Oberndorf, adding that she does not yet have a position on light rail.

For now, HRT is focused on building the first segment.

Last week, HRT’s commission voted to buy nine new light rail cars from Siemens Transportation Systems Inc., piggybacking on Charlotte’s order for vehicles for its rail line under construction in North Carolina. The cost, including support and spare parts, is $36 million.

Also, the first of 11 construction contracts has been advertised for building an elevated section of the line between Harbor Park and Brambleton Avenue near Norfolk State University. About 30 contractors turned out for a pre-bid meeting. That contract will be awarded in early November, and construction is expected to begin in mid- to late November.

By late January, a total of five contracts are to be awarded. Come February, construction activities should be under way along most of the route.

HRT officials said that communicating with the public during the construction period is critical because there will be inconveniences, traffic congestion, noise and disruptions to businesses and neighborhoods.

To open dialogue, two community meetings are being planned for late October, before construction starts. More will be held as the project progresses, said James Toscano, HRT’s vice president of communications.

HRT will also launch an improved Web site on Monday.

Even before the first track is laid, light rail has already started to benefit and shape the city.

Three planned developments – the Wachovia Center on Monticello Avenue and the Belmont at Freemason, and the Residence Inn by Marriott on Brambleton Avenue – were influenced by the light rail line, said Roderick S. Woolard, the city’s economic development director. “We see light rail as taking the city of Norfolk to another level – opening up transportation-oriented development opportunities,” Woolard said. Such development incorporates mixed uses around transit stations.

“If you look at cities across America with rail, whether it’s below ground, grade level or up in the air, they are the great cities of America,” Wright said. “We may not be major leagues in baseball, basketball or hockey, but we’re in the major leagues of transit now.”

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588,

debbie.messina@pilotonline.com