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The city of Virginia Beach, Va., recently signed an agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp. to acquire right of way that's being studied as a possible light-rail route from Norfolk to the Virginia Beach resort area.

The 10.6-mile rail line, which no longer is in service, runs from the Norfolk city line to Birdneck Road, parallel to Interstate 264. Under the agreement, the city will commit $10 million toward the right-of-way purchase, while the commonwealth of Virginia and Hampton Roads Transit will provide $20 million and $5 million, respectively. NS will retain an easement for the Dominion Resource transmission line that runs along the right of way, though the city has a three-year option to buy the easement for $5 million.

Hampton Roads Transit currently is building a 7.4-mile light-rail line in Norfolk. Nicknamed "The Tide," the 11-station line will run from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown along a corridor paralleling Interstate 264. Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2010.