THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 TAG: 9606110301
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
As the city councils of Virginia Beach and Norfolk weigh the merits of a light rail system today, the company that owns the track is still waiting to be invited in on the details.
Norfolk Southern owns 15 1/2 miles of the 18-mile corridor that transportation officials chose to route rail commuters traveling between the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and downtown Norfolk.
Without an agreement with Norfolk Southern to buy or lease that right-of-way, there will be no light rail.
``We are concerned that we have not been involved in a lot of detailed discussions on how this is going to be done,'' said Robert C. Fort, Norfolk Southern spokesman.
``We don't want to be confrontational, but we fully expect some serious discussion before much more happens on this.''
But no formal discussions have taken place between the railroad and Tidewater Regional Transit.
Some informal conversations have taken place, which were encouraging to transportation officials and led them to shop the proposal around to local governments and other agencies. Two representatives of Norfolk Southern served on TRT's advisory committee that recommended light rail.
``All of their (Norfolk Southern's) discussions with us were very positive,'' said Dennis Probst, a Minneapolis-based consultant for TRT. ``All indications are that this is possible.''
Probst, vice president of BRW Inc., said it would be premature to engage Norfolk Southern in formal negotiations now, since light rail has not yet been endorsed by the local governments and boards.
``Until we have the selection of a locally preferred alternative behind us, there's not a lot to be talked about,'' he said.
The Tidewater Transportation District Commission, which runs TRT, decided last month that a $376 million light rail system would best handle the area's future transportation needs. Light rail was chosen over other alternatives including an enhanced bus system and a system using a combination of more buses, High Occupancy Vehicle lanes and electronic signs routing traffic.
The Norfolk and Virginia Beach city councils will be asked today to endorse the light rail concept so a more detailed study can be done. On June 19, a regional planning organization, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, will be asked to do the same. For TRT to move forward with the project, it must receive the planning organization's approval.
Norfolk Southern operates a 14,500-mile, 20-state rail system. The railroad is approached regularly about operating passenger trains on its freight lines.
``Our primary objective is to be a good neighbor on considering passenger service proposals,'' Fort said. ``However, we do consider each one on a case-by-case basis on its merits.''
Norfolk Southern currently runs one train, round-trip, on that east-west corridor. Its main customers along that line are Oceana Naval Air Station, Vulcan Materials Co., and The Virginian-Pilot.
Both sides agree that the most likely scenario is that Tidewater Regional Transit would purchase the right of way and lease it back to Norfolk Southern for limited use. But no numbers have been put on the table.
Likewise, other details, such as rebuilding the track to accommodate commuter rail and compatibility with freight usage, have not been worked out.
``They are going to have to come to us to discuss definite terms for use of the corridor,'' Fort said. ``There are innumerable details that would have to be worked out.
``And as of right now, there's not even any discussion going on.''
Jayne B. Whitney, program management director for TRT, said her agency is updating a document that details a proposed agreement. That agreement is expected to be delivered to Norfolk Southern later this week.
``At this point all we can do is apologize,'' Probst said. ``We tried to get it done and over to them sooner.'' ILLUSTRATION: Map
PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL LINE
SOURCE: Tidewater Transportation District Commission study
KEYWORDS: TRT LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM NORFOLK SOUTHERN by CNB