The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
State transportation officials have initiated another hurricane evacuation study for Hampton Roads, using new storm surge models and traffic data to plot the quickest ways to get people to safety.
It is the fourth such study since 2005, leading some lawmakers to question whether the $95,000 expense is justified.
"I was very surprised when I saw VDOT was spending additional dollars for hurricane evacuation planning when a modeling and simulation study had been done recently," said Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk.
Del. Phil Hamilton, a Newport News Republican, said of the latest Virginia Department of Transportation study, "It's a waste of money."
He said Saturday that he wasn't surprised by the area's traffic gridlock Thursday, which began when a pump broke inside the westbound tunnel of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. That's why he supports HRBT expansion, a project the state lacks the money for.
Thursday's woes "just validates the reason we don't need another study," Hamilton said.
Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer disagrees.
"These are very important life safety issues, and we're going to study them every year and test them every year," he said. "This is a very serious threat, and we would be foolish to not go through scenario planning at a very detailed level."
The latest analysis is a "continuation of work that has already been done" and builds on the latest data to examine traffic patterns and potential choke points during a severe weather evacuation, explained Cathy McGhee, an engineer with the Virginia Transportation Research Council, the agency overseeing the study.
Current estimates are that more than 400,000 vehicles would leave the region before a severe Category 4 storm. That's more than double the estimate under old projections.
In addition, McGhee said, many more residents would drive away from waterfront properties but remain in the greater Hampton Roads area.
As many as 21 localities in South Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, the Peninsula and Northern Neck could be affected by a serious storm surge, according to the state's hurricane response plan.
If a major storm is forecast to hit the area, evacuation could be triggered 30 to 38 hours before it arrives.
To aid a mass exodus, officials can reverse the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 to accommodate more westbound vehicles.
Yet even when those emergency measures are taken, officials know that getting vehicles past common bottlenecks such as the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel will present problems.
One option being considered to alleviate some congestion during an evacuation is to reverse the eastbound lanes on U.S. 58, Homer said.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Why Study Again?
This is a watse of money. All you need to do is ask any resident of Hampton Roads what it's like daily on our freeways. We do have other options for evacuation, besides driving, however, and should look into them, such as getting rides, Greyhound buses, Amtrak.... That's how I'll evacuate.
Blame the General Assembly
Blame the General Assembly. They favor Northern Virginia over us. Why? Because that's where most of them live!
We are Not going to evacuate Virginia Beach.
We are not going to evacuate Virginia Beach. To where would you evacuate? Franklin? Cape Charles? Knots Island? The last time that there was an evacuation of Virginia Beach was in 1607. They left by ship. In the event of a hurricane it will be necessary to evacuate certain low lying areas of Virginia Beach that are subject to flooding. Those people will be evacuated to other more safe areas still in Virginia Beach. We need to raise the level of the roads in Virginia Beach, that are most subject to flooding.
"Third Crossing" won't help get to Hampton & Newport News
The traffic backup in Southside Hampton Roads trying to get to Hampton/Newport News because of water in the HRBT will NOT be aleviated by the so called "Third Crossing" Notice that VDOT has not made such a suggestion - yet some reporters and citizens continue to assume that the "Third Crossing" will cross the water to Newport News and Hampton. The "Third Crossing" will not add another way for travelers to get across Hampton Roads Bay to Newport News and Hampton. It will be a third crossing of the Elizabeth River and primarily service shipping interests in the Norfolk, and Portsmouth terminals. It will run from Norfolk along the south side of Hampton Roads Bay and connect on the south side of the James river to the Monitor Merrimac Bridge/tunnel which one will still have to cross to get to the north side of the Bay. People forget the characterization as a "Crossing" only applies to the Elizabeth River and is not a third way north across Hampton Roads Bay. It would better be called the "Bridge/Tunnel Connector" as it will connect the existing Hampton Roads and Monitor Merrimac bridge tunnels. What is REALLY needed is a third bridge/tunnel from Lamberts Point to Craney Island to
Not a VDOT function
Evacuation of the citizens in an emergency is a function of the state emergency services not VDOT. If Governor Kaine spent more of his time in the Commonwealth he might have time to get a viable plan formulated. Alas he can't be bothered given his national DNC responsibilities and loyalties.
Waste, Waste, Waste
They'll probably hire Northrup Grumman to do the computer simulation models of the evac routes...we can expect to get those in 2015 along with a $10 million invoice.
More to power to Mayor Fraim for calling out the General Assembly on their lack of action on this issue. Transportation funding will be an issue for me when I cast my vote for Governor. Let me clarify..transportation funding for Hampton Roads (NOT Northern Virginia)will be an issue for me.
Mayor Fraim & the business lobby he works for are the problem
The General Assembly has failed to do their job, true - but the larger problem is Paul Fraim, the "regionalists", and the bad MPO "plan" he keeps pushing for the business lobby (Future Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Port Authority, and others) that fund his political career. Corruption is the problem. Our region's transportation infrstructure is held hostage by a business lobby that keeps pushing the wrong roads, foolish light rail TOD development, and other so-called "economic development" instead of adding lane capacity where Tidewater's commuters really need more lanes. The MPO plan that Paul Fraim keeps trying to force on us does NOT add any more lanes to the HRBT. Zero. Nada. None. Paul Fraim and his puppet MPO/TPO are our bigger problem than Richmond.
VDOT
This is a knee-jerk response. A waste of taxpayer money.
Time for Change
VDOT has proven itself time and time again to be an ineffective servant of the public interest. It's time to can the whole organization and replace it with people who can actually make a difference in this state's grossly broken transportation system and cease spending money on surveys and studies that tell us what anyone with one iota of common sense already knows.
Stay put !!
Thursday was a good example ! 20 mile back up @ the HRBT, 15 mile back up @ MM ! Then a multi car wreck on the high rise! This was all due to a thunder storm and a pump not working at the HRBBT ! Lets face it this whole area has been planned poorly from the start ! Everything that has been done in the past has not helped with traffic ! So keep spending money. When a hurricane comes I will stay home ! Why should I choose to go and get stuck in traffic and run out of gas ! Rather take my chances! Good luck !!