Shore Drive gets shafted yet again. So far.
While OceanFront again secures infinite funding, the Bayfront Shuttle budget gets SLASHED IN HALF.
“Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.”
BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 at HRT.
Equitable safety improvements for cyclists & pedestrians like contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes are coming to Shore Drive!
Read the news here where Vice Mayor Jones was quoted:
“I think the council is committed to getting the improvements done[.]”
* Remember when the powers that be tried making Shore Drive 6 LANES in the 90s?!
Remarkably, the then named Shore Drive Advisory Committee(SDAC) heard the presentation from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force at their April 20th 2006 meeting.
Highlights:
Here is the entire report from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force from April 20 2006. [LOL CITY OF VB BROKE THAT LINK. AGAIN. CUZ NEW WEBSITE. 🤡]
SHORE DRIVE SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL 2006. (PDF open in new tab)
SDAC, now named the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) has their public meeting today at 330pm at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad where they will be grappling with the news of yet another PROPOSED delay in upgrading circa 1950s infrastructure in the “Gateway to the OceanFront & Virginia Beach” while the OceanFront continuously receives virtually infinite money for almost every idea proposed there.
Thanks to Hank for Agenda!
First 27 minutes 30 seconds is discussion about why no presentation.
~ 27 minutes 35 seconds starts “Budget Reduction Options”.
~ 2 hours 53 minutes starts Presentation for Proposed CIP for Transportation Section including Phase 4 Deferred/Delay. Lower your expectations accordingly.
All you people who came out against 6 lane Shore Drive have delayed 2 miles of contiguous sidewalks in the 2nd most densely populated area in VB for 30 years.
The Gateway to Virginia Beach, which is located on the Chesapeake Bay, has now become a high priority on par with the Oceanfront.
Woo hoo!
Not to bury the lede:
Shore Drive is a major east-west arterial in the northern portion of the City. The existing roadway carries 38,800 vehicles per day with a current capacity of 36,900 vehicles per day. Without this project, the roadway will continue to experience vehicular, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety incidents, and restrict traffic volume due to inadequate stormwater drainage.
🟢 The City Manager’s Proposed City Budget at VBGOV.com.
A few highlights of Proposed City Budget include:
Economic & Tourism Development
EV-22-0001 $200,000
Shore Drive Study Update
This project provides an update to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan (2000) and the Shore Drive Corridor Design Guidelines (2002). Flood mitigation strategies from the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for JEB Little Creek and JEB Fort Story (2019) as well as the bond referendum projects will be integrated into the update creating a broader, more comprehensive Shore Drive Plan. The Bayfront Advisory Commission will be utilized as a steering committee for the development of the update, public input, coordination, and engagement with the local community. The updated plan/guidelines will include: determination of existing conditions; development of a community wide public input survey; identification of issues and opportunities; development of specific land use recommendations by corridor segment; and development of architectural/landscaping/signage/public infrastructure guidelines.
To bury the other lede:
By the way, with this current proposal YOUR real estate taxes will probably jump over 10% based on recent new assessments.
Thanks to Hank for Agenda & Draft Minutes.
Edit: New Business addition “presentation from Monty Heath, who represents a group that raises awareness of veterans with PTSD and other sustained disabilities”.
The link for the new still being improved Capital Improvement Project (CIP) dashboard.
Be gentle though as it appears the new CIP Dashboard isn’t fully operational yet.
Here’s a link to a previous CIP Project Dashboard page: https://cipstatus.vbgov.com/ProjectDetail.aspx?id=4361.
Thanks to Hank for the agenda.
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
1) Encroachments discussion with Mr. LJ Hansen, Director of Public Works
Transparency & public engagement.
Mark your calendar!
February 16, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Great Neck Recreation Center
2521 Shorehaven Drive, Virginia Beach
Councilmember Taylor will host a town hall meeting to update residents on current city projects and issues that impact District 8. City representatives from the Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments will be in attendance to discuss topics such as stormwater referendum progress, Great Neck Park, traffic updates and more. Attendees will have an opportunity to have their questions addressed.
The meeting will be held in Rooms 1 and 2.
Historic and powerful! Strongly encourage you to watch in its entirety.
Hip hip hooray for more public engagement & transparency!
Important discussion about the fundamental issue of voting & fair elections in both Informal & Formal City Council sessions.
Informal includes detailed discussion on City of Virginia Beach Finances including our current stellar AAA Credit Rating and some of the challenges going forward.
Join us!
Thanks to Hank for the Agenda.
Two important items:
1) Discussion of proposed Noise Ordinance – City Attorney Mark Stiles will be available to answer questions regarding the City’s proposed changes to the Noise Ordinance.
STAFF REPORTS
Commercial Area Pattern Book Status Update – this is about guidelines for future redevelopment of Bayfront area & VB.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION(BAC) meets at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad(OPVRS) at 3769 E. Stratford Drive. (enter on side opposite Shore Drive)
#WeLoveShoreDrive 