Friday, December 12, 2008

TDCHR December 11, 2008

On Thursday morning the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing body of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), met.

The unusual starting time (10 A.M.) was at the request of the City of Norfolk due to light rail eminent domain public hearings. The funny part: no one showed up to speak. Even after the special accommodations.

The annual Audit Report was distributed to Commissioners and explained. They will now read it over, and formally receive it at their next (January 22) meeting.

President-elect Obama's economic stimulus package is slated to have a transit component. Transit agencies across the country have been asked to identify projects to get into the queue. HRT has four:

1. new Southside facility - to replace the aging administrative offices and garage in Norfolk.

2. Cedar Grove replacement - a permanent downtown Norfolk transfer center with light rail access.

3. Norfolk light rail - more Federal funds to help cover the increased cost.

4. Virginia Beach light rail - towards extension of Norfolk's Starter Line to Virginia Beach's Oceanfront.

The Commission unanimously passed a Resolution calling for mass transit to be considered in all major new transportation projects in Hampton Roads.

The revised budget for Norfolk's light rail Starter Line was distributed to Commissioners. A few facts to cut through the doom-and-gloom. First, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Portland have all had similar problems recently due to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations. Second, while The Virginian-Pravda has reported a 24% cost overrun, the actual overrun is under 10%. Over three-fifths of the increased cost are from add-ons, requested by either the City of Norfolk, Norfolk State University, or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Third, speaking of DRPT, they requested $7 million in safety enhancements. Those would be unnecessary for a 7.4 mile line, but DRPT sees a need for the Virginia Beach extension and doesn't want to have them retrofitted later. Yes, the $7 million is all about light rail for Virginia Beach.

Finally, the TDCHR approved the Strategic Plan and Business Plan, which were both originally unveiled at the TDCHR's November Retreat.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

So what "safety enhancements" are only a good idea if light rail is extended? How does adding to an existing light rail line make the existing line unsafe?

Avenging Archangel said...

Brian,

As The Virginian-Pravda has noted, the original plan for Norfolk's Starter Line met Federal safety standards.

Why DRPT is looking at it differently is because of Bob Tata's LRT bill. With it Virginia law that extension to the Oceanfront is in the public interest, DRPT is looking at the project in a different light.

No one said they were only a good idea if extended; they only become required because of extension.

Unknown said...

So, Norfolk's starter line is unsafe if it actually is a starter line? If no one added to the line, it would've been safe, but if someone wants to connect light rail in Virginia Beach to it, Norfolk's existing line, which would've been safe, instantly becomes unsafe?

Avenging Archangel said...

Brian,

No.

1. FTA - look at it as safe, as it's a 7.4 mile segment.

2. DRPT - want more safety measures, as Virginia law has them looking at it as a EVMS - Dome site line.

Anonymous said...

I think you've got it right Brian. The same thing goes for the other "enhancements".

One they mention in the article is imbedding the tracks down town. Did they really believe they were going to put the train down city streets on top of ballast stone piled in the streets? Are they lying or just incredibly stupid over there?

They can play all the word games they want, but if it quacks like a duck...

I am in favor of building the light rail even at the $330 million it will ultimately cost. Isn't that the estimate HRT had before they started the shell game in order to meet the FTA guidelines. They should just come clean and tell the truth - It is going to cost $100 million more than they said and the hype about paying for itself by attracting businesses is hooey! This is all about egos... Fraim's ego, Wright's ego, Townes' ego. But it will be the start to possibly making out mass transit system viable.

Avenging Archangel said...

Anon 8:16,

The revised budget puts the Starter Line's cost at $288 million.

Anonymous said...

Yes. It supposedly started at $232 million and they are now admitting to $288 million. We are more than half way back to the original $330 million and we still have several construction projects that have not even had the property purchased, much less been bid on.

Anonymous said...

So how I think there are more maintenance project that are higher on the priority list than creating more maintenance.

Anonymous said...

So how I think there are more maintenance project that are higher on the priority list than creating more maintenance.