Hampton Roads Pressroom
Price to buy old rail corridor could change
Post Date: Mar 11
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 11, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH
The city’s proposed $40 million deal to buy an old rail corridor for a possible light rail project could cost more because a federal agency is asking questions about the land’s value.
Federal Transit Administration officials say past appraisals of the 10.6-mile long strip are [...]
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Norfolk light-rail overages leave funding concerns
Post Date: Feb 26
By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 26, 2010
HAMPTON
Cost overruns on Norfolk’s light-rail project have created a potential cash-flow crunch for the $338 million starter line, Hampton Roads Transit’s board learned Thursday.
The increasing costs rolled out over the past couple of months prompted the Federal Transit Administration to hold up $26.8 million of federal money already approved [...]
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Statement Regarding Local Match for Virginia Beach Transit Study
Post Date: Feb 22
Philip Shucet, HRT President and CEO, said, “Today I carefully reviewed the verbatim transcript from the May 19, 2009 Virginia Beach City Council meeting, it is clear to me that HRT committed with certainty that no local City funds would be used to fund the Alternatives Analysis and Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Though our [...]
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Beach council poised to help pay for light-rail study
Post Date: Feb 22
By Aaron Applegate
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 22, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH
After two weeks of furious lobbying, Mayor Will Sessoms likely has the six City Council votes needed to give Hampton Roads Transit $244,800 to move the Beach’s light-rail study forward.
The $6.6 million study has slowed because HRT is almost out of money for it. The City Council, scheduled [...]
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Transit official OKs inquiry into HRT
Post Date: Feb 22
By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 20, 2010
Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton has ordered an investigation into Hampton Roads Transit’s business practices and light-rail project.
HRT’s new president and CEO, Philip Shucet, asked Connaughton last week to authorize an inquiry of the agency, which has amassed more than $100 million in cost overruns on Norfolk’s light-rail line.
Connaughton [...]