HRT award for downtown light rail section is substantially over budget

Posted to: News Norfolk
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By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 15, 2008

NORFOLK

Hampton Roads Transit awarded a contract Thursday to build the downtown section of light rail that is significantly more than what was budgeted.

The contract is $42.4 million to build track from Harbor Park to the Eastern Virginia Medical Center. It was budgeted at $27.7 million.

Skanska USA Southeast Inc. was awarded the job.

HRT officials said there’s ample contingency money in the budget – nearly $29 million – to cover the $14.7 million overage.

“It’s too early right now to determine what the overall impact will be on the final budget,” said Jayne Whitney, HRT’s senior vice president for development.

Eight more contracts have yet to be bid for stations, operations systems, park-and-ride lots, a maintenance facility and buses.

Of the first three contracts, two were slightly under budget and one was a little over budget.

“We see this latest contract and we are preparing ourselves for a possible escalation in the project budget,” Whitney said. Any overruns beyond the contingency would have to be covered by the city of Norfolk.

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Does anybody here even

Submitted by Adam726 on Mon, 05/19/2008 at 8:07 am.

Does anybody here even realize what happens with any single road project that gets constructed? They always go over to. And not just a few million dollars that they already had in backup funds for but highways tend to go over BILLIONS of dollars. Stop being so naive around here and get out of your minds that the car is the only way to get around. More roads=more traffic

Comment to

Submitted by redwolfabt on Sat, 05/17/2008 at 7:45 am.

Comment to stevenc55848:
"Local taxpayers pick up the difference. For some reason we never see the yearly estimated operational cost published (paid yearly by local taxes). There are already ads all over the place looking for the high level high priced executives to be hired to oversee 7 miles of train track."

Those ads you speak of will probably be filled by Ms. Williams. I believe her convict friend is looking for a job.

"would have to be covered by the city of Norfolk."

Submitted by keithb64840 on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 8:50 pm.

Wow! It didn't take long for the specter of unlimited taxpayer liability to show itself. Thank God VB voters rejected light rail.

And so it starts

Submitted by aalto on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 7:45 pm.

I have said since the start that norfolk and it's little choo choo is going to cost the taxpayers dearly. $234 million and counting. Wonder how many real transportation issues could have been fixed with that cost? But alas, we get a redevelopment choo-choo in norfolk and a big hole in the transportation budget. Best thing VB council did was say no.

Let norfolk suck this up alone. Heck they apparently have so much money to toss toward favored developers, let the developers pay the excess cost for their little tram around downtown.

Hey Norfolk

Submitted by ojt on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 7:14 pm.

Drop this project now, give back the federal funds and pay the penalties....still will be cheaper by far. WE dont want something else that doesnt go anywhere and just clogs up the roads even more!!!!!

"Possible Escalations"

Submitted by georges61555 on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 6:10 pm.

This is so pathetic it's laughable. Our city officials must think we are all a bunch of total idiots.

Over Runs

Submitted by waynel77186 on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 6:00 pm.

More on the way.
I told you that you'll be sorry.
14.7 million -250,000 citizens in Norfolk
That's about $55 per man, woman and child.

Why all the hate?

Submitted by Ethan on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 5:43 pm.

Why all the hate towards this project? This is going to be the nicest slow 22 minute ride to Shoneys EVAR! Council's developer buddies are going to get mad richer on this project. That's all the matters. Oh and the old people's property might go up in value while the young (smart) people all leave due to the lackluster job scene.

$14.7 million

Submitted by georges61555 on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 4:31 pm.

A mear drop in the bucket to what we will read about later, but hey, not to worry, our taxes will pay for it.

Uh guys. Said it before but....

Submitted by stevenc55848 on Thu, 05/15/2008 at 3:45 pm.

Charlotte Light Rail. Budget $273M. Actual cost - Over $200M over budget.

St Louis Light Rail. Over $115M over budget. Finished 15 months late. Plagued with lawsuits that were all lost. Director resigned in shame.

Local taxpayers pick up the difference. For some reason we never see the yearly estimated operational cost published (paid yearly by local taxes). There are already ads all over the place looking for the high level high priced executives to be hired to oversee 7 miles of train track.

I will say I told you so. It is as nearly all of these are...a boondoggle that solves no problems but creates many