Erika Harr
Ms. Marits
English
112
November
20, 2007
Get on Board with Light Rail Transit
For many years, traveling
within Hampton Roads has been a nightmare. Hurry up and wait would be the best
way to describe the traffic pattern throughout the area. Many residents have
relocated to Hampton Roads from cities across America where established transit and subway systems are in use. Those who have relied solely on the use of public transportation are in for a rude awakening when they
get here. Public transportation is a very serious problem in Hampton Roads that
needs to be addressed right away.
The cost of gasoline has
skyrocketed over the past few years; air pollution has increased due to excessive automobiles on the roads, and trying to
find alternative forms of transportation when your vehicle breaks down are just a few examples of traffic problems that residents
of Hampton Roads are faced with daily. The local bus system that is in use now
just won’t cut it. Many residential areas have no bus stops located with
in walking distances. Residents who are planning to travel a longer distance,
say from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, would have to plan hours for the commute. It
often takes longer to ride the bus than it does to drive a car. Another downfall
to the bus transit system is the hours of operation. Employees who have offbeat
hours are often unable to commute using this form of transportation.
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel,
the network carrying four lanes and connecting Newport News with Norfolk and Virginia Beach has had a huge impact on traffic
congestion. The two-part bridge-tunnel was built in 1957 and 1967 and was originally
designed to handle less than 70,000 vehicles a day. According to Patricia Hung
(1995) of The Virginian Pilot’s article “City promotes carpooling to ease traffic congestion”, “More
than 670,000 people commute daily in Hampton Roads; many of which still travel alone instead of carpooling.” Hampton Road’s midtown and downtown tunnels can pile up unexpectedly at any time. An accident, roadwork, or bridge lifts are all examples of incidents that will cause a major backup.
Residents who have already put in a long day at work and just want to get home should not have to waste countless hours
waiting in traffic congestion. There should be an alternative to sitting in traffic
and spending large amounts of money on fuel to sit in these traffic jams. And
there should be an alternative to polluting the air while we sit and wait. The
answer is clear! Norfolk has already turned on the green light for the light
rail project. Now it is time for the rest of Hampton Road’s surrounding
cities to turn on theirs.
“Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) selected URS Corporation to perform planning, architectural and engineering services
for public transit projects in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Over the next three to five years, URS, in conjunction
with Parsons Brinckerhoff, will conduct a series of corridor studies, prepare environmental impact studies and perform preliminary
engineering design for a light rail transit network for the region. URS will also prepare preliminary engineering for the
first operating segment of light rail in the city of Norfolk, evaluate the light rail corridors within the city of Chesapeake
and Portsmouth and study the possibility of extending light rail service to the Norfolk Naval Base.” (URS, 2001, 8)
Monday, October 1, 2007 contracts were signed to start the Norfolk light rail transit project. Construction should begin this November. The transit system
is projected to be up and running by early 2010. “For years, light rail
existed only in planning documents and on city’s wish lists. Now it’s
for real” (Messina, 2007, 1).
“The starter
light rail transit system “The Tide” will run from Eastern Virginia Medical Center on Colley Avenue though downtown
Norfolk and end at Virginia Beach’s border line at Newtown Road. It will
have 11 stations, 4 park and rides, and is projected to carry 7,130 to 11,400 passengers a day. Cost will average $1.50 a day and there will be no additional charge to transfer. Tickets will be sold in vending machines located at the stations.” (Messina, 2007, 2-3)
Many argue that Virginia Beach is too much of a residential area to have a big rail system running through it. There are just as many if not more, shops and businesses located in Virginia Beach
as there are in Norfolk. Easier means of transit though out all of Hampton Roads
will create even more revenue within each city. Those that are visiting will
no longer have the expense to rent a car, fill it up and buy a map or GPS. Light
rail transit should be able take them from the airport right to all the hotspots and tourist attractions through out Hampton
Roads. It is time for Virginia Beach and Norfolk’s surrounding cities to
look towards the future of transportation. The cost now to start the project
will eventually pay for itself and promote sales and business within the city. The
light rail transit system is a win/win situation. Everyone will benefit from
this system. The environment will have less air pollution because less people
would be driving their cars. Less traffic congestion and fewer vehicle accidents
will take place; which in turn will help lower Hampton Road’s car insurance rates.
Residents will be able to enjoy an evening out without having to drink and drive or wait around to pay high rates to
take a cab home. Those who travel on “The Tide” will be able to save
money by not having to buy as much fuel therefore; more revenue will be spent at surrounding businesses throughout Hampton
Roads.
“Our core city of Norfolk recognized this regional transportation effort had to start. It helps put us on the map as a progressive city. It elevates
our stature as a progressive region. MacAuthur Center became established and
residential development boomed in downtown Norfolk, and Town Center was built in Virginia Beach. Beach mayor Meyera Oberndorf said she’s heard from businesspeople, particularly around Town Center,
who want light rail, as well as from residents. Our demographics are changing;
we’re having more people come from other parts of the U.S. who are used to riding transit.” Now is the time for Virginia Beach and Norfolk’s surrounding cities to ride “The Tide.”
Hampton Roads is no longer just a Naval town. Many people relocate here and stay. For Hampton Road’s light rail system to work all cities surrounding Norfolk
would need to attach to the rail network. This network would allow residents
a chance to break free from the traffic nightmares.(Messina, 2007, 2-3)
(1214 word count)
Works Cited
City of Norfolk (Va.) and Hampton Roads Transit.(North America)(contracts)(Brief article). March 2007 v208 i3 p8(1)Railway Age, 208, 3. p.8(1). Retrieved October 28, 2007, from General
OneFile via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF
Haung, P. (1995, February 24). City Promotes Carpooling to Ease Traffic Congestion. The Virginian-Pilot,
p. 12D. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=133595&ran=113558
Messina, D. (2007, September 30). Norfolk's light rail gets the green light. The
Virginian-Pilot, p. 1-5. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=133595@ran=113558
URS. (Getting there). Oct 2001 v116 i15 p83(1)American City & County, 116, 15. p.83(1). Retrieved October 28, 2007, from General OneFile via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF
