VA HJR26

Directs the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Hampton Roads Transit, and the City of Virginia Beach to study extending The Tide light rail (currently 7.3 miles connecting Eastern Virginia Medical School to Newtown Road) to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Requires assessment of potential rail alignments considering right-of-way impacts, energy needs, engineering requirements including drainage systems and power conduits, and environmental impacts.

Mandates evaluation of community impacts such as noise, population density changes from potential multi-family development near stations, and effects on existing property values.

Requires analysis of construction, operational, and maintenance funding needs with recommendations for funding sources and potential revenue impacts on the locality, plus ridership forecasts based on proposed alignments.

Study to be completed in two phases with reports due November 30, 2026 and November 30, 2027, submitted to the Governor and General Assembly.