Friday, September 26, 2008

TDCHR September 25, 2008

On Thursday the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR) held it's monthly meeting. The TDCHR is the governing body of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).

MARVIN GARDENS

The TDCHR unanimously voted to condemn a 333 square foot land area for a drainage easement on the Norfolk light rail Starter Line project. The land is part of a rented house. The land is appraised at $4,600, but the owner is demanding (get this!) $51,000. Why $51,000? The house is assessed at $136,000, while the owner's best offer to sell has been $85,000. Therefore, the owner is trying to claim he's suffered $51,000 in damages from light rail and wants HRT to pay.

About two-thirds of the land is beyond the house's fence, a wooded area between the fence and the railroad right-of-way. One Commissioner joked, "I have a 330 foot easement to sell you for $49,000."

BRAMBLETON AVENUE STATION

The TDCHR agreed to move the proposed Brambleton Avenue Station on Norfolk's Starter Line at a cost of $1.45 million. Norfolk State University (NSU) had expressed paranoia-er, concerns about the station's placement. It will now be over Brambleton, with an elevator and stairs down on the west side of the street. That immediately raised concerns about NSU students trying to cross six lanes of traffic on Brambleton to get to the station.

Randy Wright pointed out that Brambleton contract (Contract 20) had originally been over $2 million under budget, so with the Change Order it was still more than $500,000 under budget.

OTHER LIGHT RAIL

Portsmouth has wanted light rail through the planned second tube of the Midtown Tunnel. HB 6028 brought Virginia Beach in. Our latest entrant: Chesapeake has begun preliminary talks with HRT about light rail.

The big Virginia Beach news of the day was that Norfolk now has publicly agreed to a EVMS to Navy base EIS in conjunction with Virginia Beach's Newtown Road to the Dome site. First, it accepts Virginia Beach's position that it doesn't want to proceed without such an extension. Second, by bringing the Navy base and Old Dominion University (ODU) online, you enhance the projected numbers for the Virginia Beach extension. Congratulations to both cities for the cooperation in getting it all done.

Virginia Beach Vision has formed a task force to work on the light rail issue. Councilman Jim Wood (one of Virginia Beach's HRT Commissioners) was scheduled to meet with them later Thursday afternoon.

Paul Riddick expressed concern that Virginia Beach might punt light rail to referendum again.

22 comments:

thesh00ter said...

good for Chesapeake. i hope Portsmouth sticks with trying to get light rail there way. Now to get Hampton to stop concetrating on giving out special licenses for hybrids and working with NN on extending the first right of way over there to Hampton after it is completed

Anonymous said...

Now that I've had some chance to think about it: Brambleton Station - concerns about the students? Apparently NSU doesn't care about the students sadly.

I think NSU should pick up the tab for relocating the station (yes I see the under budget part), but then again considering how they scream and whine...too bad it's too late to delete stations (with the idea that when Brambleton and Ingleside are deleted, residents will complain about where's their service - after they decided they didn't want light rail stations)

Anonymous said...

Of interest concerning a light rail referendum: Saturday, a well attended candidate forum moderated by Joel Rubin, all candidate attendees committed to a Virginia Beach referendum on Light Rail. Attendees were, Bob Dyer, Harry Diezel, Pastor Joe Torres, Glen Davis, Andrew Jackson, Reba McClannan, Georgia Allen, and Lawrence Teator. John Moss has frequently indicated he supports a referendum as did Scott Taylor in an interview. I wouldn't exactly consider that a punt to soliciting public support for light rail fund expenditures.

Avenging Archangel said...

Wally, you are no match for my Jedi mind tricks. I dangled Riddick's comment knowing it would draw the VBTA lurkers in.

With where light rail is polling, Council knows it can proceed with the support of the vast majority of residents.

While we're at it, why don't we put the amount of paper HNP buys to referendum? After all. it's a public expenditure.

Anonymous said...

What Poll? What are the numbers?

Avenging Archangel said...

The polls John Uhrin recently refered to in The V-P. Light rail is polling over 70% favorable.

Even if you got your referendum, you couldn't make up that large a deficit without big money that the VBTA has no hope of raising.

Anonymous said...

and what was the question' s wording?
Did it refer to funding?

Anonymous said...

For example:
Do you like apple pie?
or
Do you like apple pie at $10 a slice?

Poll those questions and see if you get the same response.

Avenging Archangel said...

Wally,

There are multiple polls coming in that high. Everyone didn't get the question wording wrong.

Face it: the VBTA is hopelessly out-of-touch with the "Beach families" they claim to speak for.

Anonymous said...

You mean you've seen these polls, the questions, the sampling data, and the response numbers? Where can I get them?

Avenging Archangel said...

Ask the candidates.

Anonymous said...

Wally, shut up!

Anonymous said...

At the Bayside forum last night, I individually queried the candidates. What poll? - let alone "multiple polls". Also, if someone wants to leak a 70% favorable figure, one would think the context would be stated - you think?

Oh, did HRT give the cost overrun figures to Norfolk's city council yet?

Avenging Archangel said...

Yeah, Wally, they were just dying to give their poll numbers to a John Moss operative.

Be a good little Egyptian and live in the land of denial. Things have changed dramatically in the past 9 years, and Moss will get wedged on the light rail issue.

As for Norfolk, Norfolk Staff and HRT Staff meet weekly on light rail. If they don't have enough info on the 9th and 10th Floors of City Hall, it's because Norfolk's own Staffers aren't forwarding it.

Anonymous said...

OOOOH! Getting a little testy, aren't we. Calling me a lurker, patronizingly referring to me as a " good little Egyptian". I would have thought you could express yourself with facts, figures, without innuendo and resorting to character barbs. I on the other hand only refer to your statements without the need to accent it with reference to a character simile.

Now, you would have those on this blog believe that you have the data concerning a poll, but you can only leak the result but sworn to secrecy regarding the test criteria. And of course, ypu suggest there are several iterations of this polling subject?

I would think that to validate the result, the content and raw metric factors would be stated. Otherwise, the poll lacks credibility as it is purely unsubstantiated, unverifiable tripe.

Avenging Archangel said...

Wally,

So scientfic opinion polls have no credibility, but two dozen kooks at a VBTA breakfast do?

Anonymous said...

Well, I guess the only thing "kookie" is the inference of these mysterious "polls". So far as anyone can see is there is nothing to see. All that has been alluded to is hearsay from politicians who are notoriously known for embellishment. Unless one can disclose the entire results of the poll regarding light rail, it doesn't exist. As for "scientific"
I have never seen a scientific poll that relies on a single positive/negative query. I therefore contend a valid poll does not even exist.

thesh00ter said...

well, polls or no polls, what do you think should be done to keep VB as well as the rest of the region from being gridlocked by traffic and being choked to death by exhaust fumes, people not having available transportation, and improving public transportation? since ur putting up this hard of a fight to prove that the people don't want light rail. huh? what BRILLIANT plan do YOU have? it's this type of non-innovative attitude that has kept this region in the dark for all these years. HR is a snail in a stampede of cheetahs compared to other Metro areas. don't get me started on the state. but that's why all the cities (accept Hampton) are trying to do something about public transportation. The state rather sit on there thumbs and point fingers at each other at the same time. (that sounds impossible but that's the amazing talent of the GA)

thesh00ter said...

and what i meant to say on my first comment was to get Hampton to stop concentrating on giving out special licenses for hybrid dogs that can maul somebody. instead work with NN on extending light rail into Hampton. sry for the confusion

Anonymous said...

Sh00ter, I wish I had a brilliant plan. Candidly, I am at a loss. Unfortunately, our southside region does not lend itself to having a thorough mass transit system. To make an effective business case requires specific components. Chiefly, among them are high residential population areas and large, dense, central business districts. Moreover, vehicular parking is abundant and personal vehicular ownership is prevalent. It is regrettable that those that rely on public could be afforded greater flexibility and freedom by expanding mass transit, but there just isn’t a supporting business case. The amount of ridership required to make it economical feasible, within a reasonable subsidy parameter, just does not exist.

thesh00ter said...

too bad we can't kick you out of the blog

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