Expansion of 'The Tide' Light Rail in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach residents are choosing alternate methods of travel...

Could the light rail be one of these choices?

Image Courtesy of 'City of Virginia Beach' website

“Ride the Tide”. Hampton Roads commuters may know this slogan well, but if you don’t it may be due to the fact that “The Tide” light rail is not a mode of transportation that is readily available to you. 

The light rail in Hampton Roads currently runs from Newton Road to downtown Norfolk. Those who need to travel beyond those limits must utilize the bus system, taxi, or their own vehicle. The light rail is a convenient way to travel because, like a train, it travels on a set track. The light weight train runs using electric lines that are positioned above the tracks and the train itself. Stops are made at specific times at specific stations, making it easy for passengers to plan their travels. Travelers in Virginia Beach have expressed interest in a light rail because it would allow for easier and more expedient travel to and from the oceanfront, as well as offer a new route that reaches destinations instead of using Interstate 64. 

Click 'play' below to hear feedback from Virginia Beach Commuter, Tina Hairston

According to the City of Virginia Beach’s website, 62.7 percent of voters voted “yes” on the referendum that asked “Should the City Council adopt an ordinance approving the use of all reasonable efforts to support the financing and development of The Tide light rail into Virginia Beach?” This essentially allows city officials to exhaust all possibilities of bringing the light rail further into Hampton Roads. The planning process is extensive as budgets need to be made, materials must be bought, and jobs created. Research from the city's website shows that it would cost over 800 million dollars to build 12 miles of rail. Brian Smith, who is the Assistant to the President for Organizational Advancement of Hampton Roads Transit, stresses the importance of being environmentally conscious throughout the building and maintenance of the light rail. Smith states, “As a region, as we continue to invest in high quality, dependable transportation options like light rail and enhanced bus services, more commuters will consider leaving their cars behind and taking transit.” The light rail could present the perfect opportunity for Virginia Beach residents to use an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. 

The study and planning process is deemed to finish in 2014, and if all goes well, construction of the rail and the eight proposed stations will be underway as noted by the city's website.  The Virginia Beach website also lists that the popular station locations will be at Town Center, Lynnhaven Road, and the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Virginia Beach would be connected not only with riders from their city, but also with riders in Norfolk. More opportunities will open for people to take jobs and attend school across city limits. 

During the mayoral forum on September 18, 2012, mayoral candidate, Rick Kowalewitch, noted, “Some of our elected officials would have us believe that spending over a billion dollars on a choo-choo train that might service five to ten thousand people a day, when we have over 1.2 billion dollars in unfunded road projects that would serve over 430,000 people per day, is okay.” Mayor Will Sessoms disagrees and thinks that the light rail would benefit the city of Virginia Beach. The entirety of the forum can be accessed here. 

We must ask ourselves exactly why expanding light rail into Virginia Beach would be beneficial for the community. Brian Smith notes, “61% of customers connecting to the Tide at Newtown Road Station live in Virginia Beach. Folks are using light rail to travel to work, school, medical appointments and to take advantage of retail and recreational activities.” The light rail attracts students attending Tidewater Community College and Norfolk State, so expanding it would appeal to universities like Regent, whose students do not have access to light rail transportation. 

Regent student, Kathryn Lopez, who recently moved to the Virginia Beach area, is excited for the possibility of using the light rail. Lopez says, “It would provide transportation to college students like myself who do not have a car. It provides quicker transportation than a bus and would be cheaper than a taxi. I could get to places easier, especially since I don’t know the area that well.” 

Student Stephen Brown echoes this idea: “The light rail would be useful. It is expensive to build but would be worthwhile in the long run.” 

Students weigh in on the light rail topic.  Click 'play' above to listen in!

Expanding The Tide light rail would take millions of dollars and several more years to complete. It was a hot topic during the city election and city officials will continue to debate as the fate of the light rail hangs in the balance. Yet, even in the preliminary stages, its impact on the Hampton Roads community is already apparent.  As evidenced in the conflicting ideas of the mayoral candidates and the excitement felt by commuters and students, the issue of the light rail is one that welcomes and encourages feedback from the community. 

It's YOUR turn!  Vote in the poll by clicking here .  Look below to see what others are saying on this important issue.