The expansion of the Light Rail is essential to facilitate growth, provide equal opportunity, and expand economic prosperity for all of the 757 and Hampton Roads areas. If additional routes can be added, it will increase access to both Virginia Beach and the rest of Hampton Roads. This will lead to a mutually beneficial relationship that will benefit both communities by connecting job seekers and job providers. It will also increase local and regional tourism by joining Virginia Beach with the rest of the greater historic areas of Norfolk. Should this endeavor be successful an expansion into Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and even across the bay to Hampton will generate a greater connectivity of the region. If we work together to show interest in this topic all of these areas will reap rewards that will be enjoyed not just in the short term but in the future as well. This project will also serve to reduce the carbon footprint of whole region and will help to reduce the highly irritating traffic congestion that plagues all of our cities. These are problems that we face together and if we can help to reduce them we should, the Light Rail neatly fits this description. I implore anyone who cares about this issue to please sign this petition, thank you!