Th Pilot reported that the new temporary leader for Hampton Roads Transit, Philip Shucet, will ask Virginia Beach to share 20% of the VB Light Rail Extension Study’s cost. Coming in at approximately $245,000, it is the latest in a long series of problems, real or perceived, at HRT. The money is to cover the 20% match required to receive a $1.2 million grant that HRT received from a federal source. Virginia Beach councilwoman Rosemary Wilson told the Pilot, “”It was always funded by HRT, we weren’t paying for it.” … I’m not sure that the councilwoman knows how HRT operates. It doesn’t have its own money. All of its money comes from grants from the federal, state, and local governments. Virginia Beach, however indirectly, has contributed money toward the study. I do understand that they were apparently told by former President Townes that all cost had been covered. Regardless, that is not my problem. My problem is that there was a cost estimate of $4.3 million that has risen to $6.6 million for a consultant contract. HRT’s Senior VP of Development told the Virginian Pilot that the price was just for the contract and did not include other costs. What other costs could not be included in a consultant’s contract? You hire a consultant to examine a possible extension of light rail into Virginia Beach. The price should include all costs of completing that mission. If the board made former President Townes leave, why can we not get rid of other executives that would even sign a contract that in not all-inclusive. I don’t even get work done on my car without a quote. If something new is discovered during the course of the service, they call and we discuss it. But studying a light rail extension is not the same as doing work on a car. These consultants were hired (hopefully) because they have experience in studying proposed transit systems. Perhaps they know that HRT seems to sign-then-read when they sign contracts. Regardless, a contract should include all costs to complete the task. Then, the consultant needs to be held to the price. No exceptions unless there is an actual emergency.