Light Rail Extension Requires State Support in Virginia Beach

Kathy Adams reports on the current political and funding situation of a proposed light rail extension in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach Mayor Sessoms said the McAuliffe administration has given a “firm commitment” to help pay for an extension of Virginia Beach’s light-rail system, called The Tide. The Governor’s Office, however, responded hesitantly: “staff said that while McAuliffe supports the concept of extending light rail, the governor needs to review a specific proposal. He has not committed any money…” according to Adams’s report.

“Hampton Roads Transit has estimated it would cost $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion to extend The Tide from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront, depending on the route,” adds Adams. Virginia Beach will likely request about $250 million from the state. “City officials hope to select a light-rail route in the next 30 days and determine how much it will cost and what chunk of the price they’ll ask the state to cover…Though they hope to go to the Oceanfront, they may have to start with a shorter route, such as to Town Center…”