are not branded as MAX routes, although Route 121 often uses MAX buses. The Tide Light Rail The Tide, Norfolk's Light Rail System, runs from Eastern Virginia Medical School through downtown Norfolk to Newtown Road (near Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital). The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on December 8, 2007. Primary construction began in early 2008, the first of nine train sets arrived on October 6, 2009, and the Tide became fully operational on August 19, 2011. Recent Projects In 2008, the long-standing central bus transfer area at Monticello Avenue and Charlotte Street was moved to the Cedar Grove lot on Monticello Avenue north of Virginia Beach Blvd., to accommodate the Wachovia development on Monticello Avenue. In 2016, it was moved again to a new Downtown Norfolk Transportation Center (DNTC) indoor terminal at 434 St. Paul's Blvd., closer to the main downtown district and the Tide's Monticello station. As of 2018, Greyhound is planned to move into the facility, as its old terminal is being taken for redevelopment, though there is concern as to whether the new facility will be able to accommodate the intercity service. A suggestion by Harrell to move it to Amtrak's new Harbor station has at this point not been pursued. Projects under development Virginia Beach Extension Study The Virginia Beach Extension Study was started in 2009 in an effort to bring a right-of-way rapid transit line to Virginia Beach using a former freight rail track, most likely to connect the current The Tide light rail from Newtown Road Station. The studied modes are Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail. Alternatives The study originally considered three alternatives with a fourth added from the City Council of Virginia Beach. Distances are the number of miles from the Newtown Road Station. Virginia Beach Town Center: 3 miles' (Alternative added and eventually chosen by City of Virginia Beach. Two stations were assigned within the Town Center district)'' Rosemont Road: 4.8 miles Oceanfront (via Oceana): 12.2 miles Oceanfront (via Hilltop): 13.5 miles As of 2015, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published. However, since the City of Virginia Beach and the State of Virginia is paying for the Town Center alternative, there will be no Final Environmental Impact Statement, as that document is made when there is federal money involved. There has been opposition from the citizens of Virginia Beach about costs and using taxpayer money to construct and maintain the