HD18 - Joint Subcommittee to Study the Transportation Network of Hampton Roads (HJR No. 194, 2008; HJR No. 711, 2009; and HJR No. 134, 2010)


    Executive Summary:
    The 2010 Session of the General Assembly acceded to the request of the Joint Subcommittee that its mandate be extended for a third year in order to provide the additional time and support required to enable Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC), which has been working closely with the joint subcommittee to attempt to prioritize major construction projects proposed for the Hampton Roads region, to develop metrics needed to permit VMASC and the joint subcommittee to consider improvements to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT), in addition to projects already considered.

    When the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) began seeking to prioritize proposed transportation improvement projects for the region, the Chairman and other members of the Joint Subcommittee had discussions with the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) about the possibility of developing a list of transportation metrics for assessing network benefits for the six proposed projects (widening of I-64 on the Peninsula; construction of the Third Crossing between the Peninsula and Southside Hampton Roads; the Southeast Parkway/Dominion Project from Virginia Beach to Chesapeake; widening I-64 in Southside from Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake to Bowers Hill in Suffolk; widening the Midtown Tunnel and extending the MLK Freeway to I-264; and improving US 460) and improvements to HRBT, with the goal of providing for an objective analysis that allows comparing each of the assessed alternatives.

    At a meeting on December 7, 2010, the Joint Subcommittee heard a presentation by Dr. Mike Robinson, who briefed the members on the results of VMASC’s multi-year study of the Hampton Roads highway, bridge, and tunnel facilities, traffic congestion, and the question of which transportation construction projects were likely provide the greatest congestion relief for intraregional travelers. After some discussion of the study’s research constraints, metrics used, accidents and incidents considered, assumptions and other elements, Dr. Robinson reported that the study concluded that, of the various possible highway construction project considered, the best alternatives were construction of the Third Crossing and improvements to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and that construction of the Third Crossing would, of the two, do the most to improve intraregional highway congestion. Dr. Robinson pointed out, during his briefing, that the final version of VMASC’s full and final report would be available by the end of December.

    The Joint Subcommittee will not be offering any specific legislation during the 2011 Session, nor does the Joint Subcommittee intend to submit to the 2011 Session of the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. Instead, as soon as it is available in final form, the Joint Subcommittee will post VMASC’s final report on the Subcommittee’s website in order that interested parties may have the benefit of the entire document.