Seeking to maintain recent momentum to add light rail transit, the Chesapeake, Va., City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, prepared to officially ask Hampton Roads Transit, operator of The Tide LRT, to help Chesapeake locate adequate funding for a $1.8 million study of the proposal.
Chesapeake's City Council adopted a resolution endorsing LRT in Chesapeake as early as 1996, and four years later, unlike neighboring Virginia Beach in 1999, voters approved a referendum favoring the concept.
But concerns over local cost shares stalled further progress until last June, when the City Council indicated a willingness to advance a study, as well as begin applying for federal and Virginia state funding assistance.
Chesapeake reportedly already has applied for part of $24 million in state transportation planning money that will become available in 2021 under the Regional Surface Transportation Program. Neighbors Virginia Beach and Norfolk are using funds from the program for other proposed LRT extensions.
Virginia Beach seeks to extend The Tide from its current eastern terminus at Newton Road Stationto its Town Center, though access to the city's beachfront has been shelved for the present. Norfolk, with backing from the U.S. Navy, seeks to add LRT access to Naval Station Norfolk, extending The Tide from its current western terminus at Fort Norfolk Medical Center Station.
Hampton Roads Transit and the city of Norfolk officially marked the opening of The Tide, 7.4 miles in length costing $318 million, on Aug. 18, 2011, with revenue service commencing on Aug. 22, 2011.