The Virginian-Pilot
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In a concession that state lawmakers say likely will mend a regional split over transportation, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim has agreed to support an expanded Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
Fraim's change of heart is tantamount to an endorsement by localities in South Hampton Roads, said state Del. G. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News.
"It's a significant step forward to hear the mayor say he's supportive of the concept," Oder said. "It's a dramatic breakthrough."
Fraim chairs the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is made up of local government representatives and oversees transportation planning.
Members of the region's legislative delegation on the Peninsula have said they would not support a transportation plan unless consideration was given to expanding the bridge-tunnel.
State Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, called Fraim's shift a "significant development that addresses the concerns of legislators on the Peninsula. Realistically, their concerns had to be addressed."
The expansion would add one lane to each side of Interstate 64 and a two-lane tunnel, which connects Norfolk and Hampton.
Norfolk has opposed an expansion in the past because of fears that about 155 homes in Ocean View and Willoughby would have to be razed to make way for it. But Fraim and Oder said they now believe it can be done without taking residences in Norfolk or Hampton.
An expansion would be at least a decade away and likely require the addition of tolls to the bridge-tunnel.
The General Assembly is set to meet in special session this spring to try to figure out ways to raise money for transportation needs in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has identified six projects in Hampton Roads costing $9 billion. Fraim estimated that adding the bridge-tunnel project would push the price tag above $10 billion.
Fraim revealed his willingness to consider the project as he and Oder were being interviewed Wednesday by Cathy Lewis for a public affairs show that will be aired at 10:30 tonight on WHRO-TV.
Fraim said Thursday that he agreed to the expansion for the good of the region. "What I'm trying to do is make sure the MPO package stays intact," he said.
Thursday morning, Oder and state Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, wrote Pierce R. Homer, the state transportation secretary, asking for a study of a potential bridge-tunnel expansion. Oder said Homer committed to do so late Thursday.
Oder stressed that the expansion would be in addition to the so-called third bridge-tunnel to the Peninsula, a series of bridges and tunnels designed to funnel traffic from Norfolk through the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.
"What was proposed before was an either/or proposition - either adding six lanes at the Hampton Roads tunnel or building the third crossing," Oder said. He said he is hopeful the region's legislative delegation will emerge united behind a transportation plan after meetings are held next week in Suffolk and Hampton to discuss the issue.
"If the Hampton Roads tunnel can be evaluated as a separate project without doing any violence to the six projects, I believe we can all unite around that," Oder said. "We're a lot closer than we were."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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pretty expensive when it
pretty expensive when it only relieves congestion by 17%. does anyone remember the original study
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/hampton_roads_third_crossing.asp
the 2.75 billion figure was 4 years ago, what would that cost now?
doesn't add up
eminent domain and home demolition are almost always part of any major transportation project, particularly in this instance where the construction isn't part of the right of way the government had mandated for public highways back when the highway system was originally in place. whether a bridge/tunnel, or a straight bridge, something would have to move in order to get this accomplished. wasn't that the primary reason for the opposition of the third crossing to begin with? it just doesn't add up; you're either going to feed the crossing or the extra lanes into the existing infrastructure to minimize damage, though doing so may be technically possible but economically unrealistic, or raze homes. either way someone is going to have to move out of the way to get this done.
To nadezhda
Not to worry. I think Fraim is appeasing Del. Glen Oder to get him off of his back when "deciding" to add the HRBT expansion to the current 6 transportation projects. However, the project will die as Fraim will say that it hadn't gone through the government committee's and the usual hogwash bureaucracy. That will be the excuse to delete it from happening anytime soon or at all. The claim was that with another four lane tunnel was that it would require razing 155 houses, whereas a single lane tube going each way would not require taking any homes. Anyway, I don't think there should be any concern at this point about losing your home. The MPO doesn't really want to do it (expand the HRBT). They would rather build roads at our expense that don't relieve congestion for normal going to work folks and give the benefits of this taxpayer gravy train to the ports and those that represent them.
Homes in Willoughby
How did the project go from losing 155 homes in Ocean View and Willoughby to losing none? I live on the Spit and would hate to lose my home. And, the homes on our street have rather hefty assessments. How would the City afford these buy-outs? Was the now-failed Spectrum a consideration in all this?
Yup
The third crossing does not help soccer moms get around in less traffic. All these cheerleaders for the third crossing will make $ developing around them. That's why they cheer for these projects.
Info for us anti-tax zealots.
Mr. Barrett writes "But of course most of the anti tax zealots who populate these forums live at the Beach and could care less about the citizens of Norfolk or Portsmouth. You have heard them say that none of the six projects would provide any congestion relief, when those who use I-64, I-264, the mid town tunnel, the downtown tunnel, the old Expressway, and even the HRBT, know that is absolutely not the case."
Ok Mr. Barrett, tell us how the third crossing will reduce traffic bottle necks on I-264 and the downtown tunnel for the shipyard. How about when the trucks leave NIT? They will have to compete with I-564 Naval base traffic as they are restricted to use Hampton Blvd through Ghent to get to the new, expanded, and improved midtown tunnel with light rail no less. The biggest employers in this area are The Norfolk Naval Base, The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the Newport News Yard. Any relief at all for them will be a pittance.
Bait and switch is absolutely correct
So Steven is right. The MPO will humor the rest of us that it could be added and then it will die because of some state and federal administration process. Fraim even admitted that he wants the original 6 projects left in tact. So he doesn't give a rats behind whether it gets added or not. If he did, then it would have been included in the first place. He is just humoring Glen Oder hoping he'll get off his back.
Well of course, tolls are
Well of course, tolls are included in the funding for all of these projects. There is no way they could be done without tolls. And actually, the expanison of the HRBT was never excluded from the plan, there just was not enough money to pay for it. The Feds require that any proposal be "resource contrained" which means you have to propose a reasonable financing plan. If the expansion of the HRBT is to be studied by the CTB then the same criteria will apply.
Who are you trying to kid?
Gee, now the pols say they are going to add to the HRBT. Well that makes a good sound bite. Fact is, the HRBT expansion was over ruled in favor of the third crossing. Therefore there is no design, EIS or anything else on anyone's immediate agenda. Fraim knows that this project isn't on the transportation improvement plan, and has zero chance of being added because we've put all our transportation money into the pols six projects. He's merely going along with this in order to get his projects pushed through. Then this add on idea will die a quick death due to lack of funds and no approval from the Feds. Don't fall for this bait and switch, the MPO has approved no such project.
I have no problem with tolls
Our transportation needs are so dire, and if it means tolls so be it. Afterall, if you are going to use it then pay for it.