ODU survey says Hampton Roads, Va., residents favor light rail expansion

Written by jrood

Light rail won't be operational until May, yet many local residents already want it extended, The Virginian-Pilot
 reports. A recent survey of local attitudes found that more than 91 percent of respondents want to see light rail go beyond Norfolk's 7.4-mile starter line.

Nearly 63 percent want to
see it go to Virginia Beach, and close to 47 percent want it at Norfolk
International Airport. Other desired destinations: Chesapeake, 40 percent;
Newport News, 38 percent; Hampton, 37 percent; and Norfolk Naval Base, 36
percent.

The survey was conducted
by Old Dominion University’s Social Science and Research Center and released
earlier this month. Nearly 700 telephone interviews with Hampton Roads
residents were conducted over the summer. The results were weighted to
accurately reflect the region’s demographic characteristics.

While six percent said
they use public transit now, about 44 percent said they would be more likely to
be riders once light rail starts running.

Norfolk and Hampton Roads
Transit officials have worked out a way to provide ample parking at the
Military Highway light-rail station. Two years ago, HRT said it would likely
only be able to offer limited, temporary parking after an office building was
developed on some of the land identified for a park-and-ride lot.

Of the 11 light-rail
stations, the Military Highway station is projected to be the fourth-busiest,
with 760 daily passengers. Federal ridership formulas indicate 232 spaces are
needed. The lot must also include a bay for connections to HRT buses. The
latest plan includes all 232 parking spaces and a bus area.

HRT and the city worked
out a land deal that involves purchasing one of Portfolio Recovery Associates
Inc.’s parking lots and using adjacent undeveloped Virginia Department of
Transportation property for parking.

HRT spokesman Tom Holden
said construction of the park-and-ride lots is expected to start in February. The
costs are covered in the project’s $338-million budget.

HRT received federal
transit enhancement grants totaling nearly $2.4 million for signs at light-rail
stations and bus stops. About $464,000 will pay for informational signs at
every light-rail station showing the route and transit connections. The signs
will be manufactured and installed in time for the May opening.

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