

The city of Virginia Beach brought a delegation to Charlotte, North Carolina. The idea is to transform an abandoned Norfolk Southern railroad track into a bike and pedestrian-friendly community asset. The city of Virginia Beach has ambitious plans to develop an east-west shared-use pathway parallel to the tracks. Additionally, maintaining revenue service on the existing line must be maintained during construction. The design of the project must consider the sequence by which structures are erected vehicular traffic in the general-purpose lanes may not be hindered. The extension involves seven set grade and two major arterial roadway crossings.

This project will involve major utility modifications for Virginia Beach to include the relocation of overhead electric power lines and major water supply lines for Virginia Beach. There are many expected challenges with any transit extension. New light rail vehicles will be purchased along with a new signal system. The double track that exists will continue along the former Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway, which was purchased by the city in 2010. The extension includes two long span bridges, each approximately 200 feet in length, and three traction power sub-stations. We are waiting final approval from the Virginia Beach City council.” “It will increase connectivity and mobility options while also supporting Virginia Beach’s plan to focus new growth in a dense, mixed-use corridor. “We are really excited this extension will connect 35,000 people in the business district of Norfolk to approximately 20,000 people in the business district of Virginia Beach,” said William E. The 3.4-mile extension will include three additional stations and one park-and-ride at the new Town Center Station. This extension would end at the heart of its central business district. The city of Virginia Beach is the largest city in the commonwealth. The city anticipates selecting a design-build contractor in May 2017.

The city of Virginia Beach will manage the request for proposal and design-build contract.

It will be funded entirely by the city of Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The project is a partnership between the city of Virginia Beach, HRT and Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation. The selection was made based on the results of a multi-year study that compared a range of alternatives.Ī year later the study is finished and 30 percent engineering effort is projected to be completed in the fall of 2016. It will continue the light rail from Newtown Road in Norfolk to Town Center in Virginia Beach. In May 2015, the Virginia Beach City Council and HRT selected a preferred route for the first extension of the 7.4-mile starter line. Service began on August 19, 2011, making it the first light rail system in Virginia.
#Virginia beach light rail route free#
It is served by 11 stations and has four free park-and-ride lots. HRT's light rail, “The Tide,” in Norfolk, Virginia, currently connects Eastern Virginia Medical School, downtown Norfolk, Norfolk State University, and ends at Newtown Road at the Norfolk-Virginia Beach boundary line. The envisioned transit system will serve all localities and connect the entire region. The population in the region, known as Hampton Roads, is projected to grow to nearly two million by 2040 according to the U.S. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), which serves six cities in southeastern Virginia, wants to prepare for population growth by building a 21st century transit system.
