wghent

This means that both cities will have to come up with another source of money - other than this $10 million state funding from last year that went to Va Beach for the buses they no longer want - money that they hoped to divert to this task. Now this money is going to Norfolk's hybrid buses and to the general kitty. I think the earmark was deleted when the transportation bill was finalized and Hampton Roads was given its own authority to do someting about transportation policy. This earmark for light rail was seen as usurping the "authority" of the regional authority. This certainly puts a reordering of the transportation priorities of the region (tar and guardrails first) on the agenda of everyone who wants to see light rail. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission is the first place to start. I have no idea what the new source will be, though the cost negotiated with NS for the Norfolk section was right at what this would have provided Norfolk ($5 million under one version of the amendment) (a conversation with a highly placed Norfolk official confirmed they were counting upon this money). I don't think this screws the deal - just means some creative scrounging. Norfolk is too committed, but the bill by Sen Rerras to have Norfolk reduce its tax base will cut into any available funds. I really worry about the Va Beach portion of the line, since that will have to be nailed down soon and the other government costs (Oceana open space, etc.) are high and the anti-tax crowd is lurking. I think on the positive side, the shift of opinion within Va Beach gov't is very encouraging.

HAH! So much for cheap enthusiasm. $6.1 million was diverted to purchase hybrid-electric buses for Norfolk and the rest was put in the bank. Bottom line - no money for light rail Right of Way purchase. I guess we are in the mix with every asphalt project to be funded under the strange regional approach they approved in the transportation bill.

That IS the hotel that Levin bought - the old bubble gum pink hotel. One of the orginial plans when Decker was involved was condos, apartments, and a marina. Be interesting to see what it has morphed into. That was the secion of Llewellyn that someone (insert name of well-connected developer here) got the city council to close to traffic in order to force the Indian gent who owned the hotel to sell it. There was a scandal about it and it never came off, so they had to wait for the gent to sell the thing.

sorry for the lapse - been working on some other stuff in Richmond. The house amndment is from Tata and provides $10 million for the right of way purchase, using the $10 million Va Beach got for their fixed route buses last year. = amendment explanation as follows: "This amendment provides $10 million the second year from the general fund to the City of Virginia Beach for the purchase of right-of-way from Norfolk Southern. The City of Virginia Beach received $10 million in 2005 to use for the purchase of bus rapid transit vehicles. Because of the ability of the vehicles in question, the City wishes to transfer that funding to purchase right-of-way from Norfolk Southern in the City of Virginia Beach. This way-of-way would be used for multi-mobile corridor including the bike trail and possible extension of the starter light rail project now about to begin in the City of Norfolk. The right-of-way goes from Norfolk City line to Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach." The Senate amendment is by Stolle and reads: "$10,000,000 the second year from the general fund shall be made available to the Cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, to be shared equally between the two cities, for the acquisition of some 15.4 miles of right-of-way owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation and located between Newtown Road and the Oceanfront." Both made it out of subcommittee, so they are pretty much assured of being in the final budget bill.

There are two amendments in the current General Assembly Session - one in the House and one in the Senate - to allow Virginia Beach to use its bus money appropriated last year for the oceanfront fixed route buses - to be used to purchase the right of way from Norfolk Southern on the abandoned rail line from Norfolk to the Beach. This is a big step - $10 million is the figure. This needs some support, since it is coming from the city government according to the amendment descriptions.

(sorry for the premature post previously) This is the last post I could find about the delay of the science building - the Oceanography addition. Does anyone know what is up? The ocenography building funded by the same 2002 bond issue is almost open at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. This delay means a smaller building - inflation, cost of cement, cost of steel, etc. This means less science at a time when ODU has laid claim to a large piece of the science funding pie.

The Virginia Beach City Council retreat recently focused on this issue - Va Beach is moving toward buying the NS right of way to link light rail with the Beach. Details are still to be worked out, but a tentative date for completion of purchase was August 2006. Norfolk is moving ahead now and this would be a great development. Also, a great opportunity for a bike trail alongside - VDOT has a study on costs of running a trail alongside the rail line - $1 to $2 million for the 5 miles from downtown to the Va beach line. Then, pick up the trail to the Oceanfront. What a great opportunity! But HRT is cool to the prospect since they didn't include bike/multipurpose trails in their original plans and they fear it could delay the project.