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Virginia Beach City Council votes for light rail extension

Posted at 9:35 PM, May 12, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-12 21:35:53-04

Virginia Beach, Va. - On Tuesday night, the Virginia Beach City Council voted 9-2 to continue efforts to extend light rail from Newtown Road to Town Center.

They approved $20 million to further engineering on the project, but it has not received final approval. In about a year there will be a binding vote.

The light rail is expected to cost about $310 million and the state will fund $155 of it.

City council also voted to approve a budget on Tuesday night, including a six-cent real estate tax increase. That money is going toward a 4% raise for city employees and teachers, as well as light rail.

The council will vote separately on ordering light rail cars.

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