No referendum needed for VB light rail
By Brian Kirwin | Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | PolicyThe Virginian-Pilot exploded today over the issue of having a referendum on bringing the Norfolk light rail line to Virginia Beach. Comments a plenty!
Here’s the truth. Any referendum held after this year would be a fait accompli. Norfolk’s light rail line is scheduled to open in mid-2011. Believe me, if Norfolk’s startup is a miserable failure that no one likes and no one rides, it’s not extending into Virginia Beach with or without a referendum.
And believe me, if Norfolk’s light rail is a hit, with riders galore and a public embrace, people in Virginia Beach will want it here and soon.
Either way, a 2011 referendum idea, sound in principle, is useless in practice.
How about this year? Wally Erb only came 23,917 signatures short of the 25,000 needed to put the referendum on this year’s ballot. The former candidate for State Senate, Clerk of Court, City Council, and failed write-in for Soil and Water Conservation Director and current City Council candidate again worked for over 9 months to get just over a thousand signatures.
Not exactly an outpouring of thirst for a referendum. Portsmouth activists got nearly 9,000 signatures in a fraction of the time to recall now-former Mayor Holley.
Besides, without knowing the cost, the benefit, the funding and the mitigation needed, a referendum now would’ve been a factless gut check.
The earliest now will have to be 2011.
There was a light rail referendum held in 1999, and let’s remember why. Sheriff Frank Drew (D) raised over a half-million dollars to challenge a guy named Del. Bob McDonnell (R). Del. Leo Wardrup (R) faced one of his better funded challengers in Sam Meekins (D) of Central Business District fame. And Del. Glenn Croshaw (D) got the shock of his life when he was defeated by Terrie Suit (R).
And the GOP loved having that conservative-voter-attracting referendum on the ballot so much, they gave the leaders of the effort a Republican award at the January 2000 Republican Send-Off dinner.
I’m not sensing those dynamics at play yet for 2011 . Bottom line – a referendum wouldn’t determine anything more valuable than watching Norfolk’s light rail’s success or failure would.
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The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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Comments
13 Responses to "No referendum needed for VB light rail"
When Henry Ryto and Brian Kirwin agree on a mass transit issue, it has to be a no-brainer.
A point Brian misses: the 2011 ballot would be the same one it lost on in 1999, the General Assembly off-year election. With a clear majority on Council leaning favorably towards LRT, they wouldn’t seriously consider a 2011 referendum. Besides, the current public meeting schedule runs until after the deadline for a question to be put on the ballot.
That would take us to 2012, the Presidential ballot. Does the all-White VBTA want to launch a suicide charge into the heavy minority turnout to reelect Obama? I doubt even they are that crazy.
Another point about 1999 that the opponents overlook is how a question ended up on the ballot. The Virginia Beach General Assembly delegation opposed LRT, the CCO was mobilized against, the RPVB had taken a “No” position, etc. None of those apply now.
Yes, the amazing truth of the last referendum was that with almost the entire political establishment against it, the vote was very close. Had the Beach had one iota of political leadership beyond Barbara Henley, it would have passed, and we would be about to celebrate that extension and the connection to passenger rail to Richmond and the Amtrak system. The cost of the failure of leadership is quite high, and I agree we will not make that mistake again.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by bearingdrift, 23219. 23219 said: No referendum needed for VB light rail http://bit.ly/bsfMRu via http://outside.in/23219 [...]
Some how I find I agree with Henry when he wrote about he and Brian being a “no brainer.” My thoughts exactly… LOL
I think measuring the success of the Norfolk Light Rail based on ridership with the small length of rail is wrong. Until the system is expanded with additional destinations its appeal is going to be limited. While expansion into Virginia Beach will be helpful, the real potential of the extension will not be realized until the line is extended in Norfolk to serve both ODU and NOB (Norfolk Naval Base). I will add that the current furthest station (at the Va Beach line) on the Norfolk Light Rail has extremely little parking for commuters.
Rail based mass transit is successful around the nation. One only need to go look at the overflowing parking facilities for rail in most areas where it is offered to judge it can help ease congestion and help commuters meet their transportation needs.
@ Brian Kirwin and Henry Ryoto,
How many commuter rail stations and rail lines have you personally had the opportunity to experience for yourself? I myself have rode on them personally only rarely, but I get the opportunity to view the parking lots for them quite regularly all across our nation. More often then not, the parking lots are jam packed.
David, in Philly, I always rode the El and buses. They ran constantly, and I never bought a car until I moved here.
Yes, as a teenager, I rode the train into NYC for Yankee games, Knicks games, and watched the rangers and concerts as well. As a college student, I rode the train into NYC to work on Madison Avenue. As a parent visiting my grown children, I have ridden commuter rail and light rail in many places including San Jose, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Washington DC, and I went with HRT to Baltimore and rode the system there. Frankly, anyone who has actually experienced light rail, and witnessed the transit oriented development that helps create livable, walkable communities, can hardly muster any negative comments, but the angry old diversity challenged members of the VBTA just get angrier and angrier as the possibility of approval increases. Soon, they will again begin their campaign of a thousand cuts, but this time, their racial overtones and constant negativity will be the ultimate demise of this moribund group and its perpetually losing candidates.
I met a gentleman from Chicago who said the exact same thing. He said public transportation could take him almost anywhere he wanted. Now and again he would have to use a taxi. He thought owning a car would cost him more.
Most people in Colombian cities commute by bus. However there is nothing like HRT down there. The buses are all privately owned and operated as independent companies. The operator must receive permission from the city for his route and time.
In Cartagena its costs me 75 cents to go from the beach area to the central part of the city with a wait time of maybe 2 to 3 minutes. There are lots of buses.
I have wondered how a private bus system would fare here.
LD,
Having been born in suburban Washington, I use Metro whenever back there. I’ve rode the subway in Montreal, and the bus system in Miami. As many know, I ride HRT virtually daily.
LD
i agree i feel the even if ridership is low on the starter line the extension will compensate undoubtedly. if VB lets the low ridership deter them then they would be back to square one 11 years ago. but i don’t think any of that’s gonna happen this time ; )
Yes, I agree; without the light rail connection to passenger rail, we would intentionally isolate our businesses, our tourism industry, and our citizens who need an alternative for travel to routes in the 500 mile range. The fact that the last referendum robbed us of the opportunity to have that service at the start is a great example of how referenda can trump the public interest.
500 miles?
Mike, is light rail actually relying on people traveling from Syracuse?
Or Atlanta?
“Gee, honey, we can’t go to Atlanta. There’s no light rail between here and Newtown Road. We’re stuck!”
Now that the WaPo is providing a link to Bearing Drift via Virginia Politics Blog, I wanted to drop by and say hello to Brian, Henry, Mike and William.
The light rail debate continues in VA Beach….although I have no vote, I must agree with some of you that yet another advisory referendum is not in the best interest of Virginia Beach.
I sincerely hope Norfolk’s endeavor is a success. We use our Metro Rail into DC and points North, often. We are about 2-3 miles from the Orange Line and as there is no bus line we park in the lot or use the “Kiss and Ride”. Tyson’s construction is well underway for two metro stops. Big changes along Rt. 123 comin’.
Nice to read you all.
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