The Virginian-Pilot
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Regional leaders had an unprecedented meeting Wednesday to try to come to a consensus on what to do about congestion at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the area's worst traffic bottleneck.
Elected city leaders from the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, which sets regional transportation priorities, met with state legislators to review six proposed alternatives to widen the bridge-tunnel. Four would add tunnels and two would add bridges at costs from $2.2 billion to $3.2 billion.
It was the first time the two groups have met. "If we had these meetings 15 years ago, we may not be in the situation we are today," said Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News.
There was no consensus about whether to pursue any of the options. However, Del. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News, said he will introduce a bill this session to seek private proposals for expanding the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
"Let's see what private industry can do," Oder said.
He added that private companies have told him they could expand the bridge-tunnel within the existing right of way and for less money than the state estimates.
Oder and Hamilton last spring asked the Virginia Department of Transportation to look at expanding the span by two lanes within the existing right of way.
Hamilton said he was disappointed that the study grew to become a $500,000 consulting contract with options that include four-lane tunnels and a high-rise bridge.
"It should not have cost a half a million dollars to say, 'Hamilton, that's not feasible,' " he said.
VDOT's study shows that the two-lane options would do little to relieve congestion and would require undesirable two-way traffic.
"I still believe it can be done," Hamilton said.
The Norfolk City Council voted to oppose the proposals because, it said, they would destroy too many homes and bring too much noise and pollution to Willoughby and Ocean View.
When the Metropolitan Planning Organization set the region's transportation priorities, it was determined that building a third crossing - from Norfolk International Terminals to Interstate 664 and parallel to Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel - would relieve traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
"We don't seem to be any closer to a solution than when we were several years ago," Del. Bill Barlow, D-Isle of Wight, said.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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A real understatement
"VDOT's study shows that the two-lane options would do little to relieve congestion and would require undesirable two-way traffic."
This is going to be a big, expensive and time consuming fix no matter what, but it seems as if something must be done to alleviate congestion. Please don't let that something be two way traffic. We drivers simply can't handle that. You might as well just shoot every five hundredth driver in the head.
Have rail paid for by those that use it?
Really? That is some excellent backwards thinking. Public transportation is a government service, the same as police, fire or the roads on which you drive. So you're asking people who would need to ride rail-based public transport to start paying on it now, so that it can be built years down the line? Not feasible. I shudder to think that something could happen to you or someone close to you and you would be relegated to using public transportation only. I am sure you would be much happier whizzing over the channel in a train than sitting in an HRT bus for an hour in stopped traffic.
Keep costs low - dump rail to nowhere!
The HRBT needs more lane capacity - FOR cars and truck, not "rail". Forget the rail-to-no-where right now. Our region, state, and Federal government are hurting for tax dollars as it is. Face it there isn't any "commuter rail" on either end of the HRBT to connect to! We don't need empty tubes. Future rail projects should be constructed on their own merits and paid for by those that USE the rail, not those that do not! Dump the rail to nowhere - add more lanes to the HRBT now.
Action needed now...
New construction of any kind is years away. Immediate action is needed. Declare the 10 miles on either side of the HRBT "No Distraction Zones". Prohibit any activity by drivers except driving. No cell phones, eating, or other distractive activities in the "Zone". Install "Maintain Speed" signs well in advance of the tunnels. Install interactive signs that can pinpoint vehicles impeeding traffic flow and the means to notify them to move to the right, accellerate or take whatever other action necessary to eliminate their congestion causing behavior. Make the fines for too tall vehicles so severe that the problem goes away, and if a too tall vehicle approaches, that vehile is held at the island or inspection station until 2am before being allowed to turn around. Make the fines for being a "disabled" vehicle blocking or affecting tunnel traffic severe enough that only vehicles in good operating order will attempt a crossing. We need action now to help with the problem!
There shouldn't be...
There shouldn't be an HOV lane period. I travel from Williamsburg to P-Town everyday and have noticed that the HOV is not even used the way it should be. The traffic moves at the same in all lanes, so there is no real justification in having an HOV lane. What benefit does it give? Absolutely nothing. it just makes people that have to drive solo sit in a line of people that travel under 55 the majority of the time. And the price for a ticket being caught in the HOV is $150. What a ridiculous amount to pay for someone that may just be passing people that are in, what is claimed to be the fast lane. Bottom line... people don't abide by the rules on the highway in reference to the fast/ slower lanes of traffic, so there's no real use for the HOV. Expand the bridge 2 more lanes and that should fix the majority of the problem. Especially when they have an accident that blocks the two lane tunnel...Just an idea, but maybe the should extend the highway to 4 lanes for a certain distance after the tunnel too...just so it really does run a little smoother... I-64's WB should be extended to 4 lanes past exit 250(NN) too. That would kill a lot of the back up that we get going towards
Citizens can have good ideas
Just from the few posts here it's apparent the "non-experts" seem to have better forward-thinking than those being paid $500K for their "studies".
Add a second set of tubes to include HOV and rail lines. It makes no sense to have an HOV lane on the Peninsula that's only seven miles long. The terminus of the west bound HOV shoves four lanes into two immediately after one of the busiest interchanges. The result - massive tie ups. This HOV needs to continue eastbound and connect with the Southside HOV. HOV’s are built with federal funding, so there’s some money already!
Putting in a rail line will certainly spur action and desire for light rail to expand where it's greatly needed.
For the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization: to quote Nike, “Just Do It”!
re: Two lanes ISN'T dumb, if done right
RGMBill wrote:
>>>The problem with a single additional bridge and two lane tube is that folks aren't thinking about it right... it needs to be an HOV (or HOV like) lane.<<<
Yeah, that'll work, I mean the HOV lanes are a huge success for the 50 or 60 cars that use it on a normal day.
Groan...
If any more studies are
If any more studies are needed, my dog and I will tell you it's not feasible - and we only charge $250,000. I hope VDOT and government will pull their heads out of... well, I hope they understand that HRBT expansion is indeed needed, that alternative spans aren't going to sufficiently reduce the bottleneck. If you look far enough into the future, a LOT of traffic will be using the HRBT. Expand it soon.
Two lanes ISN'T dumb, if done right
The problem with a single additional bridge and two lane tube is that folks aren't thinking about it right... it needs to be an HOV (or HOV like) lane. Extend HOV from Wards Corner to the HRBT, and on to where it starts at the Coliseum, and add an additional exit/entrance set from HOV near Norview Avenue (primarily for the airport) while ensuring there is also an entry and exit at Wards Corner. The bridge could still be used by the heaviest traffic (summer, tourist season, where a lot of tourists are sitting in cars that otherwise qualify for HOV) and could be easily reversed, just like the rest of the HOV system. Cheaper, and effective.... and maybe we'd get more use out of the rest of HOV too!
Agreed
Widen the HRBT and add a path for rail expansion (doesn't even have to be light rail, aalto). It is unfortunate when homes have to be razed to support infrastructure, but it is a necessary evil. It's part of the risk of buying land so close to major transportation structure such as the HRBT. Kudos to Delegate Oder for trying to create forward motion on the issue and massive jeers to VDOT for spending half a million dollars to tell us something anyone who has driven could have told us for free.