According to the Hampton Roads blog (click here), support for the light rail system in Virginia Beach is eroding:

“Cost overruns and delays to build Norfolk’s light-rail system are threatening this city’s proposed project, giving ammunition to skeptics, putting proponents on the defensive and eroding support from those in the middle.”

“If there was a vote today, it wouldn’t pass,” Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Louis Jones said. He said the council’s support for light rail is “softening.”

“Norfolk’s troubles come at a critical time in the Beach’s light-rail aspirations. The city is working to close a $40 million deal for a railroad right of way identified for light rail, though state and federal money has yet to come through. Beach leaders have bought land for a train station at Town Center. And much of the city’s future growth planning revolves around extending Norfolk’s line from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront.

A light-rail feasibility study is under way. The City Council has not voted on the project.”

…”Moss said that given Norfolk’s experience, it will be hard to trust cost estimates that will come from the HRT study that is under way.

The projected price of the Norfolk line has soared from $232 million to about $340 million, a 47 percent increase that angry officials said they weren’t told about.

“Whenever they give you a number, what faith will you have in that number?” Moss said. “Very little, I think.”