VIRGINIA BEACH--Norfolk just celebrated the end of its Tide construction downtown. Now eyes are on Virginia Beach.
For the first time, a city council majority supports putting a light rail plan on the ballot.
"Hopefully it will go out to a referendum and we can let the people decide."
Councilman Bill DeSteph says council could approve extending the tracks anytime. However, the large project could cost about a half billion dollars. DeSteph wants to make sure taxpayers approve.
"If it connects the cities, that would be great," beach resident Felts Jacobs said.
"Traffic is bumper to bumper. As far as I'm concerned light rail would alleviate traffic," beach resident Gerald D. Tyler said.
But not anytime soon. First, HRT is finishing a feasibility study by the end of this year. It will determine things like cost, route, environmental impact and ridership.
"We have to have the ridership, or we will have a system that fails," DeSteph said.
"Other cities have it and it worked for them. I think it will work for us as well," beach resident Erica Milana said.
Still, light rail doesn't have the best track record in Virginia Beach. About 55 percent of voters rejected a proposal in 1999.
"We put it out to the people ten years ago. We'll put it out again. We don't want to just shove it down their throats," DeSteph said.
Voters could see a light rail proposal on the ballot in November 2011, according to DeSteph.
