VIRGINIA BEACH – The mayor-elect of Virginia Beach says it’s time the city got on board with light rail.

"I've gone across this city.  I'm hearing a lot for light rail," said Will Sessoms.

For now, Sessoms will be satisfied with limited light rail – beginning near Town Center and to continue to the Oceanfront.

Video: New Beach mayor believes in light rail

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Eventually, he’d like to see trains all over the city.

"I hope to have Kempsville, Centerville areas where you have 160,000 people and then take that and go to the Navy base, go to the airport. That would be unique."

Sessoms says he hears concerns about crime coming to the city from Norfolk and the project’s cost.

While he believes light rail is key to improving some things in the city, Sessoms says he understands there needs to be evaluation and input on the idea.

“But it needs to be on the table for discussion and serious discussion," he stressed.

That’s quite a difference from nearly a decade ago, when Virginia Beach voters rejected a light rail referendum and council members agreed that the city didn’t need it.

So far, Norfolk's going it alone. Its service, called The Tide, will run from Eastern Virginia Medical Center to the Virginia Beach border. It’s expected to be up and running in early 2010.