Local Light Rail Information

Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) – Currently being performed by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Click here to get to the HRT VBTES website.

In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 6028 ,directing Hampton Roads Transportation (HRT) to study the expansion of The Tide in Hampton Roads, including to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. In compliance with this legislation, the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study is the first step required for the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts Program, which is a competitive federal grant program that can fund construction of the transit extension.

• • Frequently Asked Questions page on VBTES project
• • All public comments from September 9 & 10, 2009 public information sessions
• • HRT answers to 20 questions received at the September 9 & 10, 2009 public information sessions

Norfolk’s Light Rail Project - The Tide

Will extend 7.4 miles on an east to west alignment from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown Norfolk, continuing along the Norfolk Southern right-of-way, adjacent to I-264, to Newtown Road. Eleven stations will be constructed along the route with four park and ride locations that provide access to major areas such as Norfolk State University, Tidewater Community College (Norfolk Campus), Harbor Park, City Hall, MacArthur Center, and the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Click here to learn more about the Norfolk Tide.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)

We've come a long way since the early years of the 20th century. Yet even back then, the Charlotte region depended on transit to carry the city into the future. Early trolley lines fostered the growth of neighborhoods rather than sprawling subdivisions, allowing communities such as Myers Park, Plaza-Midwood, Wilmore and Dilworth to flourish. In the more recent past, after careful study, extensive public input and thoughtful consideration, citizens of Mecklenburg County approved the half-cent sales tax in 1998 to support the vision outlined in the 2025 Integrated Transit/Land Use Plan.

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project will travel 7.3 miles, connecting Portland State University in downtown Portland, inner Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and north Clackamas County. MAX service on the alignment is scheduled to begin in 2015. By 2030, when this future light rail line will carry up to 27,400 daily rides, there will be approximately 22,000 households and 85,000 employees within walking distance of Portland-Milwaukie light rail stations.

Politics of light rail in North America

Click here for a Wikipedia posting that discusses the following light rail political arguments.

Arguments by opponents are often framed in terms of "how much automobile traffic can light rail replace," above all other considerations. Arguments are generally along three lines:

• • modern spatial arrangements are unsuited for fixed-line transit systems such as light rail
• • light rail is too slow to compete with the automobile
• • light rail does not generate a sufficient return on capital investment to make its construction worthwhile
  

Houston’s experience is no different than those of other cities around the United States that have considered implementing a rail transit system. Whenever a metropolitan area considers building or expanding urban rail, you can be assured that a polarized and emotionally-charged debate will ensue. Why do trains create such acrimony? Like all political debates, it has to do with a fundamental difference in philosophy between the two sides of the issue.

• • 'Light Rail Now!' - Charitable educational enterprise designed to support efforts both within North America and worldwide to develop and improve light rail transit (LRT) and other rail transit and mass transportation systems.
• • American Public Transportation Association (APTA) – US organization that works to ensure that public transportation is available and accessible for all Americans in communities across the country.
• • 'The Tranisit Coalition' - The Coalition works to develop a safe, integrated, cost effective and environmentally sound public transportation system for the greater Los Angeles Region.
• • "The Overhead Wire' - US Urban Planner’s Transportation Blog
• • 'The Light Rail Transit Association' - International Association’s objectives are to educate people about light rail and modern tramways and to advocate the adoption of such systems as core components of modern integrated transport systems.

Links to U.S. sites opposing light rail

• • 'Breech of Faith: Light Rail and Smart Growth' highlighting alleged wastefulness and ineffectiveness of light rail projects An argument against utilization of a light rail system in Charlotte, NC
• • 'Reason Foundation Policy Studies on Light Rail' The Reason Foundation presents a series of reports documenting the poor ridership and financial performance of light rail systems in the U.S.
• •'Rapid Transit, Light Rail & Monorail Index' The Public Purpose has a catalog of articles showing the problems of light rail.
• • 'Jonathan Richmond's Professional Section' Jonathan Richmond has written many papers on the shortcomings of light rail.
• • LightRail POW! - A website documenting the safety hazards of light rail
• • The Monorail Society - A pro-monorail web site that promotes grade-separate rather than street-based transit.

Tags: Charlotte | HRT | light rail | LRT | LYNX | public transit | Tide