urbanfan

Yes, but Hampton Town Center is financed and run by big money New York City real estate and developer types. I don't see Armadda on the level yet. There is a parking deck at Town Center (Hampton) and at least two more planned which should wipe out most of the parking surface lots. There are still phases that have not built out yet that will encompass the surface lots making it more urban.

The rail line did not already exist. The rails for cargo trains is not the same for passenger light rail. All new tracks and ties have been replaced. Charlottes is no more complex a system than ours. In fact it has it's own dedicated ROW through the city center which if Norfolk had that it would have dropped our price significantly. Even despite the fact that Charlotte has more trains and stations, the money to build stations and buy cars pails in comparison to digging up centuries old streets and emedding rails in concrete. It just doesn't even come close.

Yeah, the city included this in the form of low interest loans to keep businesses afloat. However, obviously it was not succesfull. Hopefully, Vbeach finds a way to do it that won't hurt. However, Vbeach won't be facing the same issues that Norfolk has. None of the rail will wind it's way through city streets effecting local businesses, so it should be a mute point for Vbeach.

It is a direct action of the city that has caused these business to fail. Closing down roads. Constant construction zones. All of these things are not bad, however, in the amount that it has happened over the past 3 years, no one can continue under that type of damage. The city should provide a tax free holiday for businesses that are severely affected seeing it is a direct result of their actions. If I did something to cause harm to someone, they would sue to reclaim monetary and other losses. This should be no different. The city has caused this problem and offering low interest loans to keep businesses afloat is not going to do it. (In fact, it's arrogant to ask companies to take out a loan because something you are doing is going to cost them, really?) In my eyes, the city has dropped the ball here.

The study was required by state senators, not the city. The study will be finished. Pretty much the beach was forced into this they did not go into this on their own, so they have no say until the study is complete.

One thing, Please understand that the low bidding of the project did not come from HRT. I followed this project from start to semi-finish. The low balling came in as a request by the federal government not HRT. HRT submitted its project and the federal government did not like the figures. Therefore, they had a special delegation that dealt specifically with HRT to get the budget to the numbers that they liked. HRT had the right numbers previously and had it not been for government interference, we wouldn't be sitting where we are now. I understand that HRT had little experience in Capital projects, but they had the number right from the get go. Place the blame where blame is due, and in this instance, it is not with HRT but the FTA and the advisors that worked with HRT to get the numbers to where they wanted them.

Yes, but almost all of the city portion in downtown charlotte has it's own dedicated right of way. The tracks are not winding through city streets like norfolk's does. That is the most expensive portion of the light rail contract, and the one that typically runs over anyway. On top of that norfolk has two elevated sections and two bridges over water crossings, so I would say that we have just as much elevation as charlotte has throughout their line.

Yeah, Light Rail has been put on hold up here. The overall analysis is that there is just not enough density along the route to support it at this time. They are specifically focusing on corridor 3 which is the hospital to mall to airport route for now. However, all of the money that was set aside for studies and projects has been given over to the other rail projects so that they can advance. We won't be seeing light rail up here for some time.

Yes, the extension of the end of line up to the navy base is still part of the plan, just not the immediate extension. The first extension outside of virginia beach will be past the airport.

Let's not forget the Buffalo Bisons either. I'm sure there are more. Actually, now that I think of it, the Camden Riversharks are close to Patco Heavy Rail.

First of all, respond to the right person. Secondly, can we not discuss things without resorting to name calling? Really? (Nimwad)? For your information, I know exactly the process the this stuff takes as I work on it on a daily basis. So please don't assume that you know me. The federal government is paying for this, and exactly where do you think the federal government is getting the money to pay for it. Last I checked they are not a business and collect taxes from "US" the average Joe who ends up paying for these things, either through higher taxes now or down the road when the subsidies to run these systems come to bear. Where do you think the 20 million came from from the state. Last I checked they are not a business and rely on taxes from you and I the "average US citizen". Please don't talk about this anymore if you can't talk in a civil tone and with some wisdom about where the money is coming from. I will be more than happy to discuss this, and please keep in mind that I am for the system. I am just against people lashing out at those who are not for it just because they want to lump them all into the same racebating and uneducated people. Last I checked I have plenty of education and higher level degrees to back it up. So please treat me with some respect.

Link about extension to Naval base here. "In the late 1990s, HRT

First of all, let's not dope on people you don't personally know. Please stop generalizing and making comments about people. I am very supportive of transit options, however, with that said, transit is HEAVILY subsidized and should not be something that is gone into lightly. We're talking about our money going to this thing. The more money that is taken from me means the less money that I have to help with charities and local non-profit organizations (which I think is much more noble than a choo-choo to the beach.) That doesn't mean that I don't support light rail, it just means that it comes at a cost and not one that should be entered into lightly. Just because someone does not support light rail does not mean that they are automatically racist and backwards thinking. Instead of bashing them why not discuss the issue with people. I think you will find that most are not as backwards thinking as you believe. And please don't reference someone you know as reference to back you up. That is just taking what someone said and making a generalization that does not apply to a group as a whole. Let's be constructive and not destructive.

The first extension will go up Military Highway, not I-64. How it gets over to the base no one knows yet but the first extension will be up Military Highway running past the airport to the base. The second extension (colley or hampton) will come later.

I promise it's their. You have to look at the links and find the right document. I also remember a video a short time ago where HRT President verified the same thing.

The VB extension includes the Norfolk extension to the Naval Base. (via Mil. Highway) You can go to the VB extension website on HRT's site and they explain this. More than likely they will be implemented at the same time.

We also just opened up The Pub at Town Center which is a Brittish Pub joint. Neat place, check it out at this website.

It's still open with a large atrium. you just didn't scroll through the rest of the photos. Def. could use some updating, esp. the floor

In a socialist world everyone is repressed and makes the same amount of money except for those who are in charge who do quite well. Never works

The feds require a lengthy analysis of transportation options and environmental impacts and ridership estimates. It is not cost effective to do this once and then do it again for another segment. The construction of the line is nothing compared to the studies and the impact studies that are required. There is no way to speed it up. If we want federal money, you have to play by the rules. Splitting it up is just not cost effective and in the long run would cost much more money than needs to be spent.

ODU overcomes a sure rout in the second half to beat a very Good FCS Div-I-AA team Jacksonville. I think these boys are for real. Almost all of them are red shirt Freshman with very few exceptions. By the time this team plays in the CAA, they will be very experienced and a well oiled machine. First year in the CAA could line up to be a Cinderella year.

I actually think that a green space there makes more sense. Especially on a corner like that.

The plans are already started. There was a report by the pilot a few weeks back. One further thing on the strength of schedule issue. Let's not forget that the highest class ranking is a sophmor who transferred in. Almost all other players are red shirt freshman or simply freshman. By rule they could not do it any other way. So despite the lack of strength of schedule these are relatively new players to the world of college football, while all of these other team have experienced seniors and starters.

Size of Alumni pool and school drive the stadium expansion. Many of the graduates of ODU stay locally, working in shipyards, government and other scientific areas. So yes, demand is high for ODU football despite the fact that they play such a cake schedule right now. Heck, they had to refund over 1,000+ season tickets this year because they overbooked and underestimated the needs of the visiting school. Many people chided ODU for building box seats and "skyboxes" yet there isn't one single box or skybox open and there is a waiting list to even try to get one. The school is already drawing plans to expand the stadium to 30,000 and rumors of completely demolishing the stands and building around the new game day building. But hey, there is no reason to expand within the next 20 years right?

Size of the school shouldn't matter as much as division. This was a division II FCS team that won a championship not too long ago. ODU will be only playing one division higher in the Division I FCS albeit in the premier division of the CAA. For ODU to start out with the schedule they have is admirable in my opinion. Just for reference CNU is a division III school and would get its butt kicked by Chowan. It's not about school size as much as division. Did anyone really expect ODU to come out scrapping in the CAA. REally? It was obvious at the game that ODU is built for Division I FCS. The linemen were much larger and more athletic then Chowan. And really, Chowan should be lucky that the game wasn't any worse than it was because there were two touchdowns called back due to terrible officiating calls. Ultimately, the coach knew what he was doing by scheduling an somewhat easy opponent up front. Give the kids some confidence before they hit teams that are going to capitalize on the mistakes they make. Congrats ODU.