jbhay

Sweet! Looks like a small bridge will be necessary. And some homes' property may be taken? Not sure. Will this benefit traffic flow, etc.? I'm not familiar with VA Beach's roads that much.

Never been to Charlotte, but these photos are amazing! I really wanna come explore the city sometime!

Are there example cities you could point to where paying a 'premium' is in place? I agree with your discount stance; would obviously persuade people to live in TOD and thus make light rail successful, but whose to say they will ride it once they live there. Can't force people on the train, but charging for parking spaces may help? The way Hampton Roads is laid out, a key to making light rail successful would be to effectively boost the funding for bus transit. I'm sure some of you have heard of Bogota, Colombia's TransMilenio. Highly successful bus system that has feeder buses to bring people to the main transit system. I can hear the complaints now, about riding somewhere to ride somewhere, but the options are limited when it comes to methods of getting people to ride the Tide who aren't in walking distance to the lines. Thanks sprawl.

I met up with some friends yesterday in West Ghent at Tortilla West. Great little area! I've ridden my bike through there in the past, but I love that there are little restaurants tucked away back there. Definitely a place to explore in the future.

I was driving down VaBeach Blvd. yesterday and then took the Rosemont Rd. exit to I-264 W and noticed a rail line just sitting there, taken over my grass and immediately recognized it's light rail potential. I can't believe I never noticed this before. (I don't get out to Va.Beach often) I've been on Google Maps this morning checking out the rail and noticed it's drawn to Pacific Ave. but actually ceases WAY before that. This is most likely what Sessoms has been discussing lately with NS for right-of-way privileges for LR extensions. There is so much potential along this line, most obviously, Town Center. I'm sure this has been discussed heavily in this thread, but this is definitely worth talking about more. This is going to bring great TOD to VB. I'm just upset that the rail line still doesn't exist to the Oceanfront anymore. This reminded me of my first trip to Coney Island in June and how awesome the elevated track was and how dense Brooklyn was because of it. I can imagine people coming to HR and riding the Tide all the way to the Oceanfront and then taking it downtown in the evenings. I'm getting more and more excited about LR in HR, it's really going to change the way we get around. It really needs to spread to Chesapeake too because the city is young enough to really make way for some great TOD and future extensions. There could be a huge Park & Ride facility at Chesapeake City Park in the populated Greenbrier area (where I live) that could connect with the rest of the system. Chesapeake's is nicknamed "Virginia's Future", but I'm starting to think that the Tide will adopt that slogan soon enough!

After doing some traveling on I-664 on my weekend trips out of HR, I noticed that new rail sprouting up in the median and just did some research on it. Called the Commonwealth Railway Mainline Safety Relocation Project, the project's abandonment of the existing rail going through 14 at-grade crossings immediately got me thinking on how this could be a future right-of-way for any Light Rail extensions. What does everyone think about this? Will it work, is it effective, etc.?

I was just getting on here to reply to the NIMBY video posted above and how it is hardly believable that the cracks in the man's home were caused by the construction. Then, I read a little further down to see that virginian pe stated the same thing I was thinking. It is highly ignorant to deny pre-construction inspections and then complain about supposed "cracks" in your mortar from construction. It's also aggravating to see people getting so upset about something that has the potential to benefit this entire region. One of the many reasons I do not want to move back to HR after graduation is the fact that it is an auto-oriented region that I have experienced quite long enough (and I'm only 21, haha). I love the region, but it's just not sustainable, it's not transportation friendly, and I can't stand being stuck in traffic just to get somewhere, especially your place of employment. Still, Norfolk is taking measures to improve the region and I've always been fully behind it. As everyone knows, just look at Charlotte. We need more urban sustainability.

Nice pictures, I'm up in Blacksburg, so it's nice to see updates on the project! I saw the video HRT posted where they were transporting the first steel beam - that was one big beam.

I agree with the LRT becoming a success once an NOB line is established. I live in Greenbrier when I come home from college in the summers/breaks, and worked with NAVFAC this past summer on Base. The daily commute is treacherous at times, (just thankful I'm the only schmuck who doesn't go through the Midtown via Hampton Blvd. in the afternoons...), and I really think with the NOB being HR's largest employer, the LRT is well overdue. I tried taking the HRT Bus line (Rt. 22 - GB Mall - OB) a few times over the summer and it's really convenient, but takes a very long time. This past week, I've worked on Base to earn some extra cash, and I've noticed the traffic is somewhat worse than the summers, but this is most likely due to Norfolk being torn apart right now. Nonetheless, upon graduation, if I decide to remain in my beloved HR, I'd love to rent an apartment in beautiful Ghent, and take the LRT to work everyday. I'm really excited about Norfolk right now and only hope that more smart infrastructure can be implemented not just here, but all over the region.