Councilman C.E. "Cliff" Hayes Jr. said he would like the study to analyze whether the system could extend to South Norfolk or Greenbrier.

Councilwoman Patricia Willis said another federal study looked at a similar request about five years ago.

"It was determined that we were not densely populated enough, and to have it go over a bridge would be too expensive," she said. "I would be interested to see how we've changed over the last five years."

A light-rail transit system called The Tide is under construction in Norfolk and expected to open next fall. The $288-million starter light-rail line will span a 7.4-mile route from the city line at Newtown Road to the medical complex on Brambleton Avenue.

Chesapeake staffers originally wanted the city to be included in a regional study that's already looking into the possibility of extending light rail to Virginia Beach and the Norfolk Naval Base. But officials with Hampton Roads Transit said the study had already been approved and could not be changed, according to Chesapeake documents.