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Station Area Plan Public Hearings
HRT will host three public hearings at various locations throughout the city to solicit feedback on proposed Tide stations.
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Proposed Station Locations & Designs
In April, HRT shared proposed Virginia Beach station locations and designs. Click here to review the presentation.
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Virginia Beach Receives Unsolicited Private Proposal to Extend The Tide Light Rail to Rosemont Road
On April 2, 2013, the city received an unsolicited proposal from a consortium of private companies to extend light rail into Virginia Beach. The concept outlines a plan for running The Tide from Newtown Road in Norfolk to Rosemont Road in Virginia Beach, a distance of 5.2 miles.
Because the proposal comes under the Virginia Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA), the city will follow the procedures adopted by the City Council in 2009.
Voters Say Yes to Light Rail Referendum
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, 62.7% of Virginia Beach voters voted yes on an advisory referendum, providing City Council with their current level of interest in pursuing light rail in Virginia Beach.
What's Next?
- The Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study is examining the best transit options for possibly extending light rail or bus rapid transit from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront.
- The study has increased in scope to include an alternative alignment at Hilltop. HRT presented a preliminary analysis of the range of potential costs, ridership and impacts on traffic and utilities to City Council on Feb. 19 and public information meetings will be held Feb. 25 and 28.
- HRT will provide another update in April or May 2013 on locations for potential stations, station design and potential park-and-ride lots.
- In September 2013, HRT will present final project alternatives including light rail versus bus rapid transit versus enhanced bus service as well as where the line should end (Town Center, Lynnhaven or the Oceanfront).
- HRT expects to have complete results of the environmental analysis by November 2013.
- The Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study is slated for completion by the first quarter of 2014.
- Once these steps are finalized and all federal study requirements are met, council must select the desired course of action (transit mode and alignment), probably by spring of 2014. Once that is decided, HRT could complete the final design, negotiate funding and begin construction.