THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607200005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 27 lines
The proposed Virginia Beach-Norfolk light-rail line would be a boondoggle for those who would profit by its construction. The line would handle 7,000 people out of a population of 600,000. The San Diego and St. Louis light rails serve a purpose but don't ease road-traffic conditions, as our local governments and their consultants suggest it would.
Roads are totally gridlocked during rush hours because, like here, insufficient roads are available to meet current and future traffic demands.
My recommendations:
Increase the HOV-2 lanes on the Expressway during rush hours.
Build east-west and north-south highways and expressways.
Build inner and outer great-circle expressways centered on Pembroke mall.
Use motor-fuel taxes to build needed roads.
Allow private transportation systems between neighborhoods and workplace.
Local governments should back away from committing public money to what should be a private enterprise. If light-rail service could be a success, many entrepreneurs and private investors would be paying the local governments for the privilege of providing service.
D. A. MURRI
Virginia Beach, July 1, 1996 by CNB