Henry_Ryto
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Posts posted by Henry_Ryto
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Vdogg, I grew up here and have dealt with attitude for decades. I still feel that attitude to this day. I think for LR to be successful it needs Vabeach but if you noticed alot of the council that stated it are still in council. The only reason that they are looking is because they are getting pressured by businesses and Norfolk is receiving good response.
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.
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Yeah it's a good sign...it would be great if the line went all the way to town center. I'd hate to be a hater, but if va beach had better leadership they'd already be planning or building the line there with Norfolk. Meyera's comment is so typical..great leadership is not always providing what the people want, but giving them what they need. The voters and council are decades behind other metro areas in terms of thinking and that's putting it kindly.
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©].
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^^^Better.
^^^Exactly. I swear, NSU is annoying the @#$% out of me right now. Stop crying and move on. Moving a station across the street so that people have to dodge traffic is about the dumbest idea i've ever heard. Making a station less convenient for the people using it is going to make it less successful than it could be.
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.
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I have it from HRT: the Signing Ceremony will be at the MacArthur Memorial at 1:30 on the 1st.
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.
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New airport? Is this the long ago proposed mega international airport that was to serve both HR and Richmond or part of the new inland terminal between 460 and 58? The new inland port is supposed to be modeled after Alliance Texas which has an airport (frieght only).
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.
I don't know why people keep on thinking that the oceanfront isn't accessable via public transportation.Buses run to the resort area, so what's the difference between LR and buses? Whats the big deal? <_<
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.
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So by my calendar, Monday makes the date huh?
I'm excited even though I can not foresee when the other cities (at least the southside) will get on board...
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?
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Only marginally. Here are the only projects eligible for HRTA funding:
3rd Crossing
I-64 Peninsula Widening
New Midtown tunnel tubes
Route 460
SE Parkway
The only rail element in any of that is there is a provision for two "multi-modal" tubes in the Third Crossing. There is no other money for light rail expansion of any type. There is NO provision in the Midtown plans for rail tubes, despite the fact that the westernmost terminus of the starter segement is less than 300 yards from the entrance to the Midtown ---- and without rail tubes in the expanded Midtown, Portsmouth is shut off from light rail service for decades.
There is also no money for improved passenger rail services in the HRTA funding -- though this survey was about traffic problems, and passenger rail isn't really designed to address that.
The citizenry understands that we can't pave our way out of this problem -- it is a capacity problem, and the only cost effective way to address capacity, especially when water crossings are involved, is expanded light or even commuter rail. We get it -- why don't the politicians?
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.
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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.
I have it from HRT: the Signing Ceremony will be at the MacArthur Memorial at 1:30 on the 1st.
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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.
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Its funny that Ingelside is worried about crime problems when that area is seriously crime ridden. This is one of the things that I hate about this region is stupid stuff like this. I guarantee that once this is running that another group in that area will be crying why isn't there a stop at ingelside. Morons!
People can take the bus to the same places that LRT is going so what is the freakn difference. Light rail is not going to add more crime to neighborhoods point blank and these morons need to wake up! I also bet these morons are the same ones complaining about the traffic around the region.
The entire crime argument is comical, as if someone would commit a crime and use a train as the getway car.
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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.
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.
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NSU, "Paranoia, will destory 'ya...."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Is HRT trying to push the idea to Portsmouth city council? I would hope that with Portsmouth being as close and being similar to Norfolk that they would take LR serious at this point.
You can't really "push the idea" without the tunnel connection.
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Have you heard any change in Chesapeake on their feelings toward light rail? Last that i heard they didn't want anything to do with it. I think its critical that they too join in on the LR, at least Portlock and South Norfolk.
Portsmouth has been very mute on the LR. Haven't heard too much of their feelings on it. Henry have you heard anything about the city councils views on it?
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.
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I think they are holding off because the proposed third crossing was suppose to have dedicated LRT lines in it. It would have connected the Naval Base to Newport News Shipyard. I'm just guessing.
That will connect the Newport News and Norfolk lines, but not bring Portsmouth and Chesapeake on board.
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I wonder what role Portsmouth and Chesapeake will play in future light rail expansion. Some areas in Chesapeake and Portsmouth seem to be just a hop-skip away from Norfolk. You could also throw Southside Norfolk in the mix too. Some of the areas like Berkley and Campostella would be a straight shot from Norfolk's proposed 7.4 mile starter line. I'm just theorizing here.
Many of us are arguing for LRT to be run through the expanded Midtown Tunnel. Let's hope we win this one.
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I just moved from a military base, and I can tell you that I would not be caught dead on a bus, but a train is a whole different story. Trains are so much more reliable and they just have a whole different (better) feeling than a bus. I really think that LR would catch on on bases, but the only problem is security with checkpoints and such.
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.
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"No, HRT HQ is on Victoria Blvd. in Hampton (Route 103). UCAC meetings alternate between there and the Monticello Ave. office in Norfolk."
Ryto you are. I remember now. I got a speeding ticket heading over there a few years ago for a meeting. Back to the point I was getting at. Do you think they need more space or are they building an empire?
They have enough space between the two buildings - for now.
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Probably, but he represents most of Norfolk too. Drake's comment is much more significant, as she represents VA Beach (and a little of Norfolk).
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.
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HRT has a relatively new, large and nice headquarters building in Newport News. Some space on the south side would be useful to them, but it could be located anywhere in the downtown area. The library issue really is a problem for Norfolk. We've discussed the existing Kirn building a great deal. Some of us find it architecturally valuable and believe it could be expanded and rehabilitated. I think it's worlds better than those three little mediocrities that everyone is fussing about at the Hilton site, but that's just me and my own perspective. I just don't know if it's worth rehabbing. Who knows, maybe they'll run the LRT through it and designate one train the "Bookmobile."
Oh yes, Vaceltic, I remember that the ridership numbers are conservative. But if the line isn't extended into Va. Beach, probably not.
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.).
I agree. I think people there will use it just to see what it's like, especially if all they are doing is shopping at MacArthur, eating at Granby, etc. If they have to do a lot of running around, they might not be as inclined. But it certainly should get a boost from being new to the area.Notice the quote from Bobby Scott? You think there might be a push to see it go to the Peninsula down the road?
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.
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.
Norfolk Light Rail and Transit
in Norfolk
Posted
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.