166 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

http://hamptonroads....cost-40-million

[Sloan]

http://hamptonroads....goal-40-million

[CNJRoss]

The Virginian-Pilot, 2/20:

Light-rail parcel in Va. Beach not worth $40M, appraisal says

While city officials work to raise $40 million to buy the old Norfolk Southern rail line, a city appraisal says the land is worth much less.

The city won’t release the appraisal, citing “ongoing negotiations,” but officials familiar with it said it values the corridor, the likely route for a light rail project, at about $6 million. The assessed value of the rail line – the amount Norfolk Southern pays taxes on – is $7.3 million.

The $40 million asking price is about what a 2003 Norfolk Southern appraisal determined the land was worth. The line is 10.6 miles long and 66 feet wide, crossing the city between Newtown Road and Birdneck Road.

Continue.

[KevinKorell]

From Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, 3/8/09:

Va. Beach to get $20M from state to buy possible light-rail line

The city is about to receive a $20 million state grant to help buy the old Norfolk Southern rail line right of way, which long has been coveted for light rail.

Find out here how they spend it.

[CNJRoss]

ProgressiveRailroading.com, 3/13:

Virginia Beach purchases NS right of way for future line

The city of Virginia Beach, Va., recently signed an agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp. to acquire right of way that's being studied as a possible light-rail route from Norfolk to the Virginia Beach resort area.

Continue.

[KevinKorell]

From Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, 9/10/09:

It was no town-hall meeting on health care - that's for sure.

About 100 mostly laid- back residents - and about half as many city officials and consultants - turned out Wednesday night for the first public meeting on a possible light-rail project in Virginia Beach.

Find this story here.

[KevinKorell]

Hampton Roads Transit website:

HRT is currently conducting the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) to examine the potential extension of The Tide light rail transit system in Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

More here.

Note public meeting 6/30/10.

Apparently the options are narrowed down to two: LRT or BRT. With the money being spent on the LRT starter line, why introduce another technology and force a transfer? There is no contest here -- LRT should be extended to Virginia Beach, and run on a T-shaped route to serve the entire beachfront.

[Sloan]

Hampton Roads Transit website:

HRT is currently conducting the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) to examine the potential extension of The Tide light rail transit system in Norfolk to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

More here.

Note public meeting 6/30/10.

Apparently the options are narrowed down to two: LRT or BRT. With the money being spent on the LRT starter line, why introduce another technology and force a transfer? There is no contest here -- LRT should be extended to Virginia Beach, and run on a T-shaped route to serve the entire beachfront.

Right on! Virginia Beach has only to look to Galveston for a successful application in a similar setting.
Sloan

[Sloan]

http://hamptonroads....-rail-expansion

[KevinKorell]

Virginia Beach could have had light rail by next year had they been aboard with the plans from the start. Because at first they were generally opposed to the idea, the TIDE's first phase literally ends at the Norfolk/Virginia Beach border. Some of the hotels and restaurants you can walk to from that easternmost station are technically in Virginia Beach, not Norfolk. The fact they are so concerned now about parking spaces filling up at that station proves the fact that the need for transit in Virginia Beach is year round, despite it being a summer resort. I'd still like to see a T-shaped route that runs north/south along one of the avenues parallel to the coast. In the meantime I hope that HRT is planning some sort of express bus shuttle(s) between that last TIDE station and the beach/resort area, as well as wherever those Norfolk-bound commuters need to drive from, so they can allieviate the parking concerns.