Va. Beach likely to have to repay $20M intended for light rail extension

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginian-Pilot reports that Virginia Beach will likely have to repay $20 million to the state since it doesn't plan to extend the Hampton Road Transit’s light rail system.

In November, voters roundly rejected light rail in an advisory referendum, so the city must decide what to do with the old 10.6-mile Norfolk Southern right-of-way, which was purchased in 2010 for the project and included a $20 million investment from the state.

City Manager Dave Hansen said the city must still continue to invest in roads, preserve the railroad right-of-way, improve the reliability of buses, and continue to investigate new mass transit technology. For the full story, click here.