Norfolk Light Rail Transit

Norfolk Light Rail Transit is a $232 million proposed project extending 7.4 miles from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center on the west through downtown Norfolk and then along the I-264 corridor terminating at Newtown Road within the city of Norfolk on the east.  The project is a partnership with the City of Norfolk, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), the region’s transit provider.  Eleven stations will be constructed along the alignment including four park and ride locations.  The rail system would provide access to several major activity centers in Norfolk such as Norfolk State University, Harbor Park, City Hall, MacArthur Center, Tidewater Community College (Norfolk Campus) and  Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.  The system would utilize a combination of both city streets and the existing rail corridor purchased from Norfolk Southern and would also be served by an enhanced feeder bus network. The new light rail system when operational is estimated to carry between 6,000 and 12,000 people per day.

Under the current project budget, the Federal Transit Administration would pay about 55% of the project’s estimated capital costs. The remainder of funding would be provided through a partnership of both state and local sources. The project entered the Final Design phase in September 2006, and once it meets all remaining FTA requirements, the City of Norfolk and HRT anticipate the Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the project can be executed by mid 2007. The FFGA is a contract with the federal government that formally commits federal funds toward the total project cost and thus allowing construction to commence in fall 2007. This construction schedule will put Norfolk Light Rail on track to open to passenger service by late 2009/early 2010.  The City of Norfolk and HRT believe that Norfolk Light Rail is the beginning of what will eventually become a regional light rail system in Hampton Roads.  Click here for additional information.