DATE: Tuesday, September 2, 1997            TAG: 9709020080

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   57 lines

IF COUNCIL STILL BACKS RAIL SYSTEM, BEACH WILL NUDGE CONGRESS BEFORE $2 MILLION FOR DESIGN STUDY CAN ARRIVE, LAWMAKERS MUST RESOLVE ISSUES.

The City Council is hoping to keep the idea of a light rail transportation system on track by persuading Congress to provide money in next year's budget for a crucial design study.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved funding the study, but the Senate has not. A reconciliation is needed before the money can be released.

Today, the City Council will vote on a resolution urging Hampton Roads' congressional delegation to secure the $2 million needed. The resolution will do nothing more than reaffirm the city's interest in pursuing the transportation project. Its importance, however, lies in whether the council can muster the political will to move it forward.

On Dec. 17, 1996, the council narrowly endorsed a detailed study for a light rail system connecting downtown Norfolk with the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

The 6-5 vote reflected the council's divisions over regionalism. The council members' comments leading up to the vote were raw and blunt, laced with the frustration of years of difficulties between Virginia Beach and Norfolk officials.

Councilman Louis R. Jones, a longstanding opponent of the project, summed up the city's opposition at the time by saying, ``The definition of regionalism in this area is the transfer of money from the suburbs to the inner city. They are asking us to pay to transport our tourists that we spend millions of dollars a year to bring to the Oceanfront . . . to the MacArthur mall, Nauticus and Waterside.''

Three council members said they couldn't vote for light rail because of Norfolk's less-than-consistent support for the Beach's Lake Gaston Pipeline. Others said they voted for light rail despite their water concerns because they believe transportation is important, too.

Light rail is a proposed transportation project costing at least $250 million that would connect the Oceanfront, downtown Norfolk and the Norfolk Naval base with a commuter rail network.

The study being considered by Congress is necessary to advance planning for the project, but even if it's completed, light rail would still be years away from reality.

``If we don't get this appropriated, then we won't get the project going,'' said Virginia Beach Councilwoman Louisa M. Strayhorn, who represents Kempsville and is an advocate of the rail plan.

``This resolution is really a matter of putting pressure on the Senate,'' she said.

Jeanne Evans, chief of staff for Congressman Owen B. Pickett, said Friday there is no guarantee the money will be appropriated.

``It will go into conference and we could get zero and we could get $2 million,'' she said, adding that the conferees have not been named.

Congress reconvenes Wednesday, she added, and the city should not expect a reconciliation conference to be impaneled until late this month. Pickett will not be a member of the conference, she said. KEYWORDS: LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM

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