DATE: Wednesday, June 25, 1997              TAG: 9706250468

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   55 lines

TRT READY FOR PRELIMINARY STUDY ON LONG-SOUGHT LIGHT-RAIL SERVICE THE 18-MONTH PROJECT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD BUILDING THE 18-MILE LINE.

Tidewater Regional Transit is accepting proposals for preliminary engineering work and environmental impact study for a $376-million light rail system between Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The 18-month project is the first step toward building the 18-mile light rail corridor since the Norfolk and Virginia Beach city councils signed off on it last year.

``We have the majority of funds in hand,'' said Jayne B. Whitney, TRT program management director. ``We see no reason not to proceed.''

About $4 million has been received from federal sources including the Federal Transit Administration and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.

Whitney said that, while the money doesn't cover the entire cost of the study, it's enough to start the engineering and environmental work.

Regional officials have requested another $5 million from Congress to complete the study and begin final engineering and design. If TRT fails to obtain that money, Whitney said other federal and state sources will be explored.

Because consultants are now formulating bids, Whitney declined to say how much the entire study is expected to cost.

Deadline for bids is Monday. A contract will be awarded in September with work beginning in October.

The contractor will conduct preliminary engineering and design on the first 18 miles of the light rail system, complete an environmental impact statement, select an alignment to Norfolk Naval Base and Norfolk International Airport, and conduct a preliminary analysis of future extensions to Chesapeake and Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, TRT officials are still waiting to learn whether the light rail project makes the federal list of transportation projects eligible for congressional funding.

South Hampton Roads is competing with other transit projects nationwide for a dwindling pot of money. President Clinton's budget proposal reduces the amount of money for new transit projects from $760 million this year to $634 million next year.

TRT officials hope the $5 million request appears to be a drop in the bucket compared with larger projects from other cities. Local officials have also asked for a future allocation of $220 million toward light rail construction.

Preliminary design work is expected to take 18 months. Final design would then take about two years. Construction could begin in early 2001.

The project is still subject to local politics, however. The Virginia Beach City Council approved the project under the conditions that no local money be spent on light rail until the Lake Gaston pipeline is in operation and until Beach voters have their say on the rail and the taxes needed to support it. KEYWORDS: TRT

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