Light-rail in Virginia Beach? Could be coming soon, according to The Virginia-Pilot. A recent meeting between residents, city officials, and consultants talked about what light-rail would look like in VA Beach.

Light-rail could be a great improvement to the city and help with traffic congestion, making it easier for visitors to get around, but also for residents. Improvements to transportation in areas like VA Beach which struggle with seasonal traffic congestion can help make the area more marketable to homebuyers, which will help increase property values.

"It was no town-hall meeting on health care - that's for sure.

About 100 mostly laid- back residents - and about half as many city officials and consultants - turned out Wednesday night for the first public meeting on a possible light-rail project in Virginia Beach. The meeting was largely about the bureaucratic process for getting a project off the ground, but residents got to meet the people behind the effort.

Hampton Roads Transit is conducting a $5.7 million study to answer the basic question: What kind of mass transit could work in the Beach? The study, due next year, is expected to nail down details on light-rail routes, cost, the number of riders, the location of park-and-ride lots, road closures, the environmental impact and noise. A bus rapid-transit system is also an option. So is extending light rail to Norfolk Naval Station.

The study's completion would open the door for federal funding, and competition is fierce for those dollars, HRT President Michael Townes told residents. Any project is at least six years away.

Meanwhile, Virginia Beach is expected to soon close a $40 million deal for the old 10.6-mile railroad corridor between Newtown Road and the Oceanfront that could be used to link to Norfolk's line, which is under construction."

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