The Virginian-Pilot
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Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he wants to have a "specific agreement" by summer with a private partner to rebuild U.S. 460 between Suffolk and Petersburg as a limited-access highway.
"I want a public-private partnership that begins, that is well thought-out, that is either approved or imminently to be approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board" by summer, McDonnell said after a speech at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. During his campaign last year, McDonnell often accused Virginia Department of Transportation officials of moving too slowly to review bids by private groups to rebuild the 62-mile stretch of highway.
The project has long been seen by local planners as part of a solution to ease congestion by establishing another major route out of Hampton Roads.
"We've got three bids that have been sitting around for nearly three years without action being taken," McDonnell said.
The governor said he told Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton to determine whether those bids can be considered or whether the state needs to seek new bids. "We're close to making an announcement on that," McDonnell said.
Given the state's limited resources to contribute to a partnership, the governor said officials are considering giving a future private partner a more lucrative deal in exchange for shouldering more of the financial risk.
"The reason the previous deals hadn't worked is there has not been enough state money - the 30 or 40 percent match - to make the deal work. We're looking at some creative options," he said. "I have told my secretary, 'You must get this done.' I want to see action promptly."
Meanwhile, VDOT officials have been negotiating for 18 months with Elizabeth River Crossings, a consortium of private firms, for a $2 billion package of transportation improvements in Hampton Roads, including building a second tube at the Midtown Tunnel, extending the Martin Luther King Freeway and improving the Downtown Tunnel.
An interim public-private agreement has been reached, but there has not been a commitment to build the project because work continues on forging a final agreement.
The proposal includes tolls at all three facilities, with a smaller toll on the Martin Luther King Freeway.
The previous administration said it would take a state contribution of $400 million to $600 million to reduce the proposed tolls - $2 to $3 for cars and $6 to $9 for trucks - which regional leaders say are too high. They've said a toll between $1 and $1.50 would be more acceptable.
Pilot writer Debbie Messina contributed to this report.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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A genuine question
Why is it that when billions of tax dollars are spent on highways, that it is applauded, while there is so much resistance to mass transit funding?
Alternative to 64
The idea behind expanding capacity on 460 is to give an alternative to I-64. Most of the traffic leaving Hampton Roads is headed towards Richmond for destinations in NOVA or other parts of the state west of I-95.
Neither 460 or 58 can just be "widened" or upgraded to limited access highways. You first have to provide a method of collecting all of the traffic from the existing residences and businesses. So, for both highways, you're probably looking at a new parallel limited access highway for through traffic, and the existing divided highways would remain largely unchanged. For those who have travelled through Delaware are probably aware of a similar arrangement of US 13 (non-toll limited access) & Delaware Route 1 (tolled expressway). Based upon the fact that most of the traffic leaving south Hampton Roads is headed towards Richmond, a new route along 460 makes the most sense.
Route 58
I haven't browsed all the comments today but over the years I have thought Route 58 would be a much better alternative route for supposed 'emergency evacuation' than 460. There are less towns to deal with and when it reaches I-95, there is less congestion than around 295-95-460.
Lanes could be added to the center median in some areas and outside lanes for others. Other than 'French Fry Alley' at the end of the present 58 bypass, there are no significant population centers to have to go around.
Is it too easy?
Go West Young Man Go West
I have driven 460 many times but cannot see making it a limited access highway. The problem with 460 is a lack of a center barrier since most of the highway is a 4 lane undivided highway. Just add another lane on each since and construct a grass barrier in the center. 460 has no heavy traffic.
The new 460 would empty into Richmond I295 near Hopewell. I64 is connected with I295. During an emergency weather here I295 would be packed--too many headed NORTH. Look at a map.
South Hampton Road was not given an Interstate to the south. Rt. 58 is already a 4 lane divided highway so lets upgrade it to Interstate standards am give it an Interstate number. Commerce and tourist needs a southern route--why must everything head NORTH. Raise the gas tax $.05 gallon and no one will know it. Taxes have not been raised in 30 years. We cannot build todays roads on yesterdays taxes.
All those towns losing all that revenue
Already some businesses are complaining that the loss of traffic through their speed traps will cause them to lose business. And lets not forget all the speeding tix all those State Police officers and Sheriffs get to write now in those 35 mph zones.
Tolled "interstate" 460 Not Needed - Unaffordable
We looked at the traffic studies and cost of an entirely new 460. It was $1.5 billion at one point and now probably more. It doesn't relieve I-64 and it won't carry enough traffic to pay for it with tolls that people can afford. We believe it could cost taxpayers $1 billion, not $400 million, in addition to the tolls and that's money not available to fix aging bridges, potholed pavements or the real traffic bottlenecks within Hampton Roads. The road would induce more development far from jobs. A targeted approach to fixing the existing 460 with safer shoulders and a median and better bridges over the Blackwater and wetlands would seem to be a better and more conservative approach. The PPTA for I-95 in NOVA is on hold because banks won't even finance that deal in a high traffic corridor, so we can't imagine the finances making sense for a private deal for 460. www.smartergrowth.net
Casino would raise 500 million p-lus or minus
With North Carolina now having video sweepstakes Virginia is virtually surrounded by states with Casinos. I havnt checked out all the states but it seems that the average take is about 500million a year. That is a lot of money that would go a long way towards road building/maintenance. That is not a tax, not a toll, not a fee that anyone is forced to pay in any way. In addition Casinos would bring about jobs to the area. A win win all around. As I say, "money for nothing and the roads for free." If the state is serious about raising money for roads it needs to at least talk about Casinos.
casinos
Realistically, casinos only bring in "free" money if they attract out of state money. Casinos in Va Beach or Williamsburg would probably bring in a lot of money from out of state tourists, but casinos in Richmond or Roanoke would just result in some locals spending their money in casinos instead of lottery ticket, horse racing, beer, etc.
You're probably right...
But, casinos in Virginia would also keep Virginians from travelling out of state to visit casinos (like those in WVa, Delaware, New Jersey, and the coming casinos in North Carolina.
Shouldn't be a high priority
I frequently travel from VB to south Richmond. Rt. 460 has been my route of choice for years. With my destination, I-64 is about 10 minutes quicker if there are no significant backups - but at the point when I switched from I-64 to 460, there were almost always significant backups, either around W'burg or Hampton, or both.
There's no doubt I have saved many hours of driving time and much frustration by taking 460. In addition, I have to pay $2.15 in tolls in the Richmond area if I take I-64 but no tolls to take 460.
So how much time will I save on my trip if Rt. 460 is turned into a limited-access highway as proposed? I don't know, but I'd guess 10-15 minutes. I assume that if it's built as a public-private partnership, we're talking about numerous hefty tolls along the route.
Also, a limited access highway might be an economic boon to a handful of property owners who happen to own land next to where the exits are placed, but in general an intertate-type highway would kill economic development and small businesses in those towns along 460.
No thanks. Save the money and effort for more worthwhile transportation projects.