Watch Us Grow
Norfolk International Airport bucked the nationwide decline in passenger usage, posting a 17% increase. Southwest Airlines added Norfolk to its service routes and a new $133 million passenger terminal opened on the July 1, 2002. Norfolk International Airport achieved record high traffic volumes in 2002, a year when nationally, airport traffic fell 4.7 percent.

Two of 2002's largest business expansions occurred in the maritime industry. Marine Hydraulics, specializing in ship repair of the Navy's largest ships, is purchased 6 acres including a 1,400 ft. pier in the Lamberts Point area, the total capital investment is $15 million. Metro Machine's SPEEDE Shipyard's new ship encapsulation repair facility in Berkely will employ 120 new workers and is a $60 million investment.

Norfolk's cruise market has remained strong and has in fact gained ground following the national travel downturn of 2001. As a matter of fact, Norfolk's tourism numbers increased across the board, bucking the national trend. This can be attributed, in part, to Norfolk being in a very strong "drive market", pulling from the Greater Washington-Baltimore and North Carolina markets.

The 2004 cruise season is robust, with over 60 calls presently scheduled, and the debut of two new cruise lines using Norfolk as a homeport. Norfolk will host 115,000 passengers. In July, 2003, Holland America announced the first Caribbean cruises, to take place during the winter season.

Norfolk continues to reap the benefits as one of the fastest growing cruise ship ports on the East Coast. In 2003, the NAUTICUS International Pier played host to 20 ships and over 36,000 passengers. The latest industry figures indicated an average of $102 per passenger spending, with pier facility revenues averaging $10.00 per passenger.

Port related business was up at Virginia International Terminal driving new capital investment into our region. The Virginia Port Authority approved a $335 million bond issue to pay for renovations to Norfolk International Terminals South, as well as, enhanced security and safety measurements. In September 2002, construction began on the wharf to accommodate the eight new cranes. The new cranes will be arriving in August 2003. The new Suez class cranes will stand taller and reach out further in the water to handle larger container ships.

In addition, the Authority plans to issue $100 million in bonds in the next two years for renovations. Port officials expect to end 2002 with 8% increase because of diversions sent to Hampton Roads due to West Coast labor shutdowns. It is expected that much of the new cargo will continue to move through Hampton Roads.

Light Rail Project

• Projected costs are $222 million, although no funds have been committed yet, proposed funding is 50% from federal sources, and 25% each from state and city.
• Annual light rail operating costs are estimated at $8 million.
• The line would run from near Eastern Virginia Medical Center to Kempsville Road near Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital, a trip that would take 26 minutes.
• HRT projects that 9,000 people would ride the trains each weekday -- about 6,500 former bus riders and about 2,500 new transit riders. These estimates don't include ridership from new development or for special events such as festivals, cultural performances or baseball games.
• East of downtown, the line would use an existing Norfolk Southern freight track. HRT is negotiating with Norfolk Southern to purchase the track and move freight deliveries to the overnight hours.
• The light rail trains would run along the street through downtown and over to the medical complex on Colley Avenue.
• The line would be at street level except when it crosses two freight lines and around Norfolk State University between Brambleton and Park avenues.
• There would be 11 stations, including stops at three downtown locations, Harbor Park, Norfolk State and Military Highway. Four stations would have park-and -ride lots, and six would have bus drop-off areas.
• Two areas along the line would be eyed for redevelopment as part of the project. What is now Kirn Memorial Library would be relocated and replaced with an office/retail complex. And YMCA parking lot on York Street would have residential and retail development as well as a parking garage.