Norfolk's transportation system is growing up, with light rail starting next May and passenger rail two years later, the Virginian-Pilot reports. So its connections to each other need to mature, too. Toward that end, officials envision a $16-million "multi-modal" transportation center at Harbor Park downtown, where commuters can move between light rail, passenger rail, bus, ferry, bike and taxi.

The city has set aside $6 million, and recently applied for $10 million in federal stimulus money.

"It's really about making seamless connections," said Ray Amoruso, Hampton Roads Transit's senior vice president for planning.

The first phases won't rival Grand Central Station, but later expansions would include a parking garage and mixed-use development surrounding the transportation center. The train depot also would be expanded to accommodate higher speed rail, which the state has agreed to pursue into Norfolk in the future.

Rod Woolard, an assistant city manager, said the project is being designed in modular way for ease of expansion.

With the city's $6-million initial investment, a 2,400-square-foot Amtrak train station would be built. The state has promised one train a day within three years to Richmond and beyond to Washington and Northeastern cities, which could grow to three trains a day. In addition, a new bus transfer facility would be developed, moving about two-thirds of buses from the current location at Cedar Grove north of downtown on Monticello Avenue.

Covered walkways connecting the train, the buses and the Harbor Park light-rail station would be constructed. It would be topped off with a "grand arrival plaza" facing Park Avenue for cars and some short-term parking and stopping lanes.

Woolard said the center would open when Amtrak starts running in 2013, but bus operations will likely move before then to support the light-rail station.

If the city is successful in winning federal money, a new ferry landing and terminal station would be built that would accommodate HRT's current ferry service between Norfolk and Portsmouth, and possibly higher speed ferries that are now under study.

The grant money would also allow for a larger train station, additional lighting and utility work, landscaping, better pedestrian linkages and bike paths to connect to the Elizabeth River Trail. Upgrades to the trail would also be made.

Woolard said he expects to hear about the grant toward the end of the year.

Mayor Paul Fraim said he hopes the project will "lend some momentum for expanding the light-rail system because of the fact that you can take light rail to catch the passenger train."

Virginia Beach is now studying possibly extending light rail into the city.

Multi-modal transportation centers are growing in popularity around the country as commuters look for alternatives to the car. In Seattle, a multi-modal center connects buses from four transit agencies, three types of rail, a future streetcar system and a bike commuting station.

"Whatever we can do to leave the car at home is a good thing," said Linda Thielke, spokeswoman for King County Metro Transit.

Woolard said that while the transportation center alone has value to the city, "we're also looking at it in the context of the type of development it would likely spur."

For years, the city has been buying property between Harbor Park and Norfolk State University for redevelopment to better connect downtown to areas east, including the south Brambleton area and NSU.

Coincidentally, the transportation hub is next to where the historic Union Station stood from 1912 through 1963. Harbor Park, the Norfolk Tides baseball stadium, is there now. At its peak, three railroads served the old Union Station terminal - Norfolk and Western, the Southern and the Virginian.

"Whatever we do build we want to be sure it includes the present and the future that could include more trains and faster trains," Fraim said. "We hope it will in the future become a major transportation hub."