HD2 - Executive Summary of the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Transportation Network of Hampton Roads (HJR 194, 2008)


    Executive Summary:
    The Joint Subcommittee held four meetings in the course of 2008 and, with the assistance of Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) considered the impact of construction (or non-construction) on six alternative transportation improvement projects recommended by the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning organization would have on traffic congestion in Hampton Roads:

    1. Construction of a Third Crossing between the Peninsula and Southside Hampton Roads (in two phases);

    2. Construction of the Southeastern Parkway/Dominion Boulevard project linking Virginia Beach and Chesapeake;

    3. Widening the Midtown Tunnel to four lanes (two in each direction) and extending the Martin Luther King Freeway (four lanes) to connect to Interstate Route 264;

    4. Improving U.S. Route 460 between Suffolk and Interstate Route 295 near Petersburg, including the eventual construction of a new facility paralleling the present route;

    5. Widening Interstate Route 64 on the Peninsula as far west as Virginia Route 199 near Williamsburg; and

    6. Widening Interstate Route 64 on Southside Hampton Roads between Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake and Bowers Hill in Suffolk.

    At the specific request of the Joint Subcommittee, VMASC also modeled the congestion impacts that would result from expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT).

    The study demonstrated that failure to build any of the proposed improvements would result in peak traffic demand almost double the available capacity of key transportation corridors, especially during the tourist season. VMASC's efforts indicated that the six projects approved by the MPO would provide marginal improvement to recurring congestion at the HRBT. The greatest benefit would be brought about by the construction of the Third Crossing (both phases), which would reduce demand on the HRBT. As expected, the greatest improvement at the HRBT occurs if this facility is expanded, but even this improvement leaves significant recurrent congestion during peak use periods. If the HRBT is widened to eight lanes, analysis indicates that the facility will be able to discharge peak demand in 2030. Such an expansion would also reduce incident-induced congestion and improve travel times.

    At its last meeting of 2008 (December 10), the members unanimously agreed that legislation should be offered in the 2009 Session of the General Assembly to extend the joint subcommittee's mandate for an additional year, and that this further study specifically include consideration of extension of the HRBT to connect the Peninsula to Terminal Boulevard and widening of Interstate Route 64 on the Peninsula between Interstate Route 664 in Hampton and Interstate 295 east of Richmond. The Joint Subcommittee also hopes to consider leveraging technology, increased use of transit, and traffic management strategies.