Local motorists scored a small victory Thursday when the Commonwealth Transportation Board reinstated some funding for improvements to the Interstate 64/264 interchange.
While the $7.7 million budgeted only covers purchasing right of way, the money keeps the project, and eventually traffic, moving. Until Thursday, it had been dropped altogether from the state's six-year road-building plan.
The region, however, was not successful in getting money put back in the budget for widening I-64 on the Peninsula.
Overall, the board on Thursday voted unanimously to slash an additional $893.5 million statewide from road operations. It's the fifth cut the board, which meets in Richmond, has made since June 2008, totaling $4.6 billion.
"The budget was passed grudgingly because it was the only option we had based on decreased revenues," said Aubrey Layne, Hampton Roads' representative on the panel.
The cuts were necessary because of declining revenue from fuel and car sales taxes.
Three members of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization appeared before the panel and pleaded for more money for the region.
While the state proposed an overall increase of about 3 percent in fiscal year 2010 for all road construction, Hampton Roads' share would have decreased by 13 percent. It's the only region in the state with a reduction.
The proposed revisions also showed no interstate money for Hampton Roads in 2011 - a first. That same year, Northern Virginia would get $225 million, or 93.2 percent of the state's interstate money.
Layne worked with Virginia Department of Transportation staff to erase that zero.
"We're the second-largest region in the state by population and we had a year in which there's no interstate funding - I just didn't want to set that precedent," Layne said.
About $2.4 million of the I-64/I-264 project is in the 2011 column.
"It's not a huge amount of money, but we'll take it," said Dwight Farmer, executive director of planning organization. "It will keep activities going, and we save critical time."
The project will widen the ramp exiting I-64 heading from Chesapeake to I-264 eastbound into Virginia Beach. It's a notorious chokepoint during rush-hour commutes.
Farmer added that he was disappointed that the I-64 widening remained stricken from the budget.
However, the Interstate 564 Intermodal Connector linking to Norfolk Naval Station and Norfolk International Terminals remains fully funded in the road plan.
Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer said it's the only new construction project in the six-year plan for the entire state.
He said VDOT pooled funding from several other local projects that were not ready for construction to ensure that one major Hampton Roads project could be built.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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I agree with the posters here though I would like to go a different direction. I was astounded to see that the necessity for a change at the 64-264 ramp in the works! It's been previously back logged for years! I think an extra exit lane and a flyover for non-Newtown Road exiting drivers would be best for fluidity but I'll take any step forward!
That upgrade checks one highway issue off my wish list. the others are Indian River exits (good luck!), 64 peninsula, High Rise Bridge widening, 64-towards-664 widening, and mid-town/downtown tunnel lane additions. A steep list yes, but a boy can dream during this holiday season right?!
Shapes
Actually, if you look at the map, I64 and I664 combine to make a noose around HR, with the controlling end in Richmond. No wonder we're being strangled here.
based on the shape of the state
northern va looks like the head, the body is bent over with a our streached hand to the west so that leaved hanpton roads bring up the ............rear. wow it was so easy to figure out. No more studies to accomplish. bada bing bada boom.
were they on their knees this time licking the gravy spoon drips
I would like a break down of total revenue this area has generated in gas taxes over the last 20 years, the amount returned, the makeup of board members of the state transportation board, our attendance to fight for our share etc. Do here a call for a spread sheet. I heard a rumor from the last main meeting nobody show up to plead out case has this happened before? Maybe we need to commission a study from MPO transportation board from Northern VA to determine how they are able get more money then us, since commissions and studies seem to be the only thing we have time and money to accomplish. Maybe we should send a spy ads steal their playbook. I hear Blackwater, (XE) have a few extra people to hire out.
He is
The State law requires that Gov. Kaine submit a balanced budget to the legislature by January. The devil will be in the details, or cuts that Gov. Kaine proposes, vs cuts that Gov. McDonnell can get passed.
Keep cutting!
"It's the fifth such cut the board has made since June 2008. Together, those reductions total $4.6 billion."
Don't stop now. There's still 3 BILLION dollars more in deficits to make up for! Why leave a deficit for Bob?
Cut more NOW!
Its a shame
Virginia especially Hampton Roads will never get improved roads because it is not a priority. Hampton Roads will continue being stagnant because there is no interest in significantly upgrading the transportation network and nobody is willing to pay a little more to make the necessary improvements. Poor Hampton Roads.
Cuts
"Forced by declining revenues from fuel and car sales taxes, the board voted unanimously — and grudgingly — for the cuts to the state's six-year transportation funding plan." So the taxpayer gets the blame for the shortfalls and it has nothing to do with poor representation, or maybe too much fat at the top of the heap. You politician types are making the taxpayer sick with the crap you try to push on us. Squeeze every drop of blood out of us that is possible, and then blame your mismanagement problems on us, this is just typical. Vote in this behemoth of a health care bill and see how much of the share the feds are going to lump on us. Politicians have let the big business sell out our industry overseas. We are in a situation that we can not maintain what Americans have pride in and that is independence. The article about representatives in the paper the other day just proves that they get the creme and we get the nasty end of the stick. Wake up taxpayer and make these crooks accountable for the mess they have gotten us into. We need a set term limit for all politicians to keep the decay out of the apple barrel.