Henry_Ryto

Thanks, vdogg. The idea actually orginated with Virginia Beach Vision, a business group. The VBHMA has now picked up the ball and run with it. Now if the Central Business District Association and Chamber of Commerce chime in, you can bet the mortgage that a DEIS will be commissioned.

Only 4 members of the current Council were there in 1999, and one of them (Barbara Henley) was one of the two (along with Will Sessoms) to endorse a "Yes" vote on the referendum. There's clearly a majority to go at least as far as Town Center. What they're waiting for is news from Norfolk to provide the political cover to pull the trigger.

Too bad you guys don't get the Beacon (VB's Pilot supplement) and missed this morning's story - which I posted in the VB Transportation thread a month ago. The Virginia Beach Hotel/Motel Association (Linwood Branch, President) has asked for submission to the Legislative Package a measure to acquire a light rail ROW from Birdneck Road (the NS eastern terminus) to the Dome site. I don't know why they need the state, but LRT is s-l-o-w-l-y moving forward in Virginia Beach.

I've read the 17 page Final Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), and here are a few interesting nuggets: 1. HRT is liable for cost overruns [section 4(a)]. That's been taken up by the Norfolk City Council [Preamble]. 2. The Tide is required to be in revenue operation by January 1, 2010 [section 5(a)]. 3. If HRT defaults, it can be required to repay all Federal funds [section 19(a)]. 4. Revenues from HRT's current transit operations can't be used to cover the Local Share [section 10©].

Okay, NSU, what about non-students taking the train to NSU to see sporting events? You want to make it impossible for them? As for the train itself, the TDCHR voted Wednesday to piggyback on one of Charlotte's options, so it's their style.

I just found out this afternoon that the Signing Ceremony is Invitation Only. This is due to the limited seating in the auditorium. Do not come without an Invitation; you will be turned away at the door. I found out - and managed to snag an Invitation - when I attended this afternoon's TDCHR meeting. I'll have to be Urban Planet's eyes and ears there.

In 2001 the Virginia Department of Aviation proposed a new airport for Hampton Roads along the Suffolk/Isle of Wight line. The proposal has largely sat moribound. With Virginia Beach's greenfields north of the Green Line nearly exhausted, the only rational growth strategy is to do TOD in the Norfolk Southern Corridor.

Virginia Beach will get onboard in due course: 1. Will we have to wait until after the November, 2008 City Council election? Does City Council pull the trigger at their November Retreat? 2. Is it to Town Center, or all the way to the Dome site?

I agree about light rail through the Midtown Tunnel, and have previously stated such in a few forums. Not only for Portsmouth, but eventually extending to the proposed new airport on the Suffolk/Isle of Wight line. Also, elsewhere I have pushed for transit funding among the pending HB 3202 changes. 2-3 cents on the Gas Tax would mean a huge difference for bus service.

I have it from HRT: the Signing Ceremony will be at the MacArthur Memorial at 1:30 on the 1st.

The Virginian-Pravda has twice reported there's going to be a LRT Financing Signing Ceremony on October 1. Has anyone heard anything about it? I e-mailed HRT Staff Thursday but still have no reply.

The entire crime argument is comical, as if someone would commit a crime and use a train as the getway car.

I just got out of the RAC meeting, and very little happened. Councilman Uhrin assured us that Transportation would be covered in the Resort Master Plan. I'm fustratated with the degree that they seem they think they can fudge the "LRT or BRT?" question. The system you choose is going to affect routings and land uses in the Resort Area. I had a speech ready to go on the need and why it should be LRT. I didn't get to give it.

NSU, "Paranoia, will destory 'ya...."

At last Wednesday's RAC Transportation Committee meeting, Linwood Branch pushed an idea from Virginia Beach Vision. They want the Dome site to serve (in part) as a transportation hub, with it as the eastern terminus of a LRT/BRT line coming down the Norfolk Southern ROW. They want in in the pending Resort Master Plan; the only question was whether it could now be put in with it already being RFPed. (Staff is suppose to be looking into it.) It should come up at this Thursday's (3 P.M. at the convention center) meeting of the full Resort Advisory Commission. As a Commissioner, I'll certainly push for it to be LRT-specific. Linwood wanted the Resort Area business associations to chime in on it. If enough big guns (i.e. Vision, VBHMA, etc.) line up behind this, LRT in Virginia Beach will almost certainly become a reality.

It's official: HRT is looking to move it's Southside offices. I saw the paperwork at last night's UCAC meeting. No, nothing on LRT last night.

Forget about hockey: the NHL has made it clear they won't put two teams in small markets (Norfolk and Raleigh) only 150 miles apart. I'm surpirsed the WNBA hasn't seriously looked here.

You can't really "push the idea" without the tunnel connection.

Chesapeake is transitphobic, period. Most cities have two Councilmen as their HRT Commissioners; neither of Chesapeake's Commissioners is a City Councilman. That shows how seriously transit is taken there. The only pending project in Chesapeake is a circulator bus from Robert Hall DTC to the Greenbrier area. (After that, both Route 15s would go to Robert Hall, instead of splitting as they now do.) I've heard nothing out of Portsmouth elected officials on it. However, LRT would dovetail nicely with what they're trying to do with redevelopment. That's part of why extending LRT through the Midtown Tunnel is of critical importance. Bus service in Portsmouth is pretty good Monday-Saturday during the day. Portsmouth's UCAC reps have been focused on evening and Sunday service.

That will connect the Newport News and Norfolk lines, but not bring Portsmouth and Chesapeake on board.

Many of us are arguing for LRT to be run through the expanded Midtown Tunnel. Let's hope we win this one.

The two biggest reasons given now for not using the express buses: 1. Getting stranded if you miss the bus. 2. Not being able to get home during the day in case of an emergency. Neither would exist with light rail.

They have enough space between the two buildings - for now.

The Virginia Beach City Council holds it's annual Retreat next Friday and Saturday. (Postponed from this week.) It will be interesting to see what - if anything - comes out of there transit-wise.

No, HRT HQ is on Victoria Blvd. in Hampton (Route 103). UCAC meetings alternate between there and the Monticello Ave. office in Norfolk. FYI, the next UCAC meeting is August 22 in Norfolk (6:30 P.M.). There already is a project underway on the Peninsula. They're down to identifying a Minimal Operating Segment in Newport News for what is to eventually be a Williamsburg to Hampton via Newport News line.