The Norfolk City Council approved a series of transportation funding ordinances and agreements on May 20, including a Smart Scale grant award to widen Virginia Beach Boulevard and related VDOT funding for signal and railroad projects.
Key approvals included: a Smart Scale grant of $15,450,321 from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the Virginia Beach Boulevard widening project between George Street and Newtown Road (UPC 115244) plus a local contribution of up to $250,700; an ordinance accepting $5,716,969 in VDOT Smart Scale funds for railroad crossing message signs (UPC 119229) with local match and $111,100 in local funds; authorization to accept $1,902,692 in VDOT Smart Scale funds for a centralized transit signal priority project (UPC 119210) with $89,600 in local funds; and a resolution supporting an application for Transportation Alternatives funding up to $8,489,826 for four projects. The council also authorized the city manager to enter an agreement with the Commonwealth and the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad for upgrade and future maintenance of railroad gate crossing equipment at Bainbridge Boulevard, committing up to $1,001,252.50 as the city share of future maintenance expenses.
Council adopted each ordinance by voice vote as part of the consent agenda; roll-call confirmations in the meeting transcript show unanimous approval on the listed items. The measures will require city execution of agreements with VDOT and the railroad, and the ordinances add project entries to the FY2026 grants plan where appropriate.