[Norfolk Light Rail and Transit]

One-way traffic through the resort area really does seem like an A-bomb sort of solution. I think that if light rail could somehow be separated from vehicular traffic, it could be sold as the solution to gridlock without having to resort to one-way traffic. If locals want to go to the beach, but don't want to worry about gridlock, take the train. If tourists want to get to somewhere else, and not worry about gridlock, take the train.

This might sound crazy, but is there any way the trains could run along the boardwalk?? Naah, that would be too crazy.

Other options would be an elevated line over one of the streets (ugly) or to make a corridor through eminent domain (between Atlantic and Pacific would be the ideal location but in the real world probably another block or so further away.) And come to think of it, crossing all those streets at grade would probably be dangerous, so even a mid-block alignment would have to be elevated.

The more I think about it, the more I realize there's just not a good alternative to going on-street...

I like VA Beach, but, actually, I think that it dropped the ball on light rail a long time ago. The citizens and city council members missed a really good opportunity to enhance the profile of the city, by possibly drawing new businesses, venues, hotels, etc. VA Beach already has a lot going for it as far as being a resort city and the quality of life is concerned. However, one would think that it being the largest city in population in the state and having more undeveloped land than Norfolk, it would have spear-headed alongside Norfolk, an attempt to finally acquire an authentic mass transit system, i.e. light rail. I could go on, even about seeking a pro sports team and building a major business district too (which they are just now building in the form of Town Center...thats strange). And yet, what do you know, Norfolk, the smaller city, has done all that by its self. That says a lot about Norfolk's ambition, although, sometimes misguided.

As for Va Beach, why, if its the world's largest resort city, in size, does it not have a city wide mass transit system. Thats rather odd. In a resort city, lots of visitors have to be shuttled around efficiently, especially during the tourist season. I mean, for goodness sake, have you seen Atlantic avenue during the summer months. Its like a parking lot; and they depend on buses and faux trolleys? In anycase, I think that LRT in Norfolk will eventually spread to other cities (so I hope) in the 757, maybe to Portsmouth or Chesapeake before anywhere else.