Mayor Fraim Delivers the State of the City Address

Norfolk’s Mayor Paul D. Fraim presented the 2008 State of the City address Friday, February 1, at Norfolk Waterside Marriott. At the luncheon the Mayor highlighted the many benefits of The Tide to the City of Norfolk:

“When the history of the region is written for the first part of the century, 2007 will be viewed as a turning point for Norfolk and for Hampton Roads…[because of] the construction of the approved Norfolk Light Rail line, together with major infrastructure improvements in the way we move people and goods that will carry us well into the 21st century and make our economy more accessible to the entire globe. And, while the light rail line is for now a Norfolk starter line, the hope is that a future generation will ride on rails that stretch from Williamsburg, under the harbor, by way of the new multi-modal tube of the third crossing, through Norfolk and all the way to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. And, someday link with high speed rail here in downtown by Harbor Park that will travel the entire east coast. It is all now right before us and achievable.”

Mayor Fraim continued, “Spearheaded by light rail, the next three years are going to bring more investment to Norfolk than at any time in its modern history. The Tide adds a new dimension to our planning strategy – Transit Oriented Development – and this is already making its impact felt downtown. Three developments – Wachovia Center, The Residence Inn by Marriot and The Belmont at Freemason Apartments – were all designed with light rail in mind.”

HRT would like to thank Mayor Fraim for identifying The Tide as a cornerstone of the region’s future and economic vitality and his unwavering support of regional public transportation.