The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
State highway officials on Thursday took the first step toward doing something to fix the notoriously congested Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
After a month-long review, the Virginia Department of Transportation accepted an unsolicited proposal from a group of private companies to double the size of the bridge-tunnel and operate it as a toll road. The action means the proposal meets state guidelines, and it allows other companies to submit competing proposals within 120 days.
VDOT does not have to commit to any of them.
The submission that set things in motion came from Hampton Roads Crossings, composed of some the same companies that are close to an agreement with VDOT to build a parallel Midtown Tunnel.
Hampton Roads Crossings' concept would widen the HRBT from two lanes to four in each direction and improve the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel and the James River Bridge for $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion.
The proposal would be funded by tolls - $4 to $6 on all three crossings. A source close to the project said the toll range is a worst-case scenario.
When the group first proposed the Midtown Tunnel project, its toll was as high as $3. The latest plan is for a $2.17 toll, but negotiations are continuing, aiming to bring it to $1.50.
HRBT construction would begin in 2014 and end in 2018.
With the state's acceptance of the proposal, some details of the plan were released. It calls for building a new four-lane bridge and tunnel, which would be west of the current facility and carry traffic from Hampton to Norfolk. The existing bridges and tunnels would be used for Norfolk-to-Hampton traffic.
The proposal also includes widening the approaches from two lanes to three. The proposal notes that three lanes probably would be able to be built within the existing right-of-way, thereby reducing the impact to the nearby communities.
In Norfolk, Interstate 64 would be widened to three lanes through the Interstate 564 interchange by using the medians and the shoulders. The lanes would be barrier-separated, similar to the existing layout on the Hampton side.
Hampton Roads Crossings also would assume responsibility for operation and maintenance of the Monitor-Merrimac and the James River Bridge plus portions of I-64 and I-664.
Hampton Roads Crossings is composed of international developers and builders, including Skanska Infrastructure Development, Kiewit Infrastructure Co., Skanska USA Civil, Weeks Marine Inc. and Parsons Brinckerhoff.
The proposal has fueled a political disagreement between Peninsula and South Hampton Roads leaders over how to fix the gridlock that's become routine during rush hours at the HRBT.
Newport News Del. Glenn Oder and other Peninsula legislators have pushed for expanding the crossing. The Norfolk City Council is against the widening, especially if it's expanded beyond the current footprint.
Norfolk stands behind building another harbor span, known as the Third Crossing, a bridge and tunnel that would head west from the port terminals and naval station in Norfolk, connect to Craney Island in Portsmouth, then cross to the Peninsula at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.
Regional leaders are working to prioritize road and transit needs to update the long-range transportation plan. The current plan includes the Third Crossing but not the HRBT. The HRBT, which was ranked the most congested interstate in the area in a recent report, is a candidate for inclusion in the updated plan.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Tolls on HRBT Tunnels
I hope if tolls are imposed that they will adopt the model used on the interstate around Dublin, Ireland. They eliminated their toll traffic problem by installing cameras that catch license plates and they post signs that tolls must be paid by midnight the following day. They can be paid online or at almost any gas stations (and other stores) in the area, and locals can buy stickers and maintain a monthly account.
Not that I think tolls provide any kind of solution, but please don't increase the problem by installing toll booths ... find a way to get drivers to maintain their speed going through the tunnel ... maybe a camera in the tunnel with fines for the lead car traveling less than 50 mph :).
For Whom the Bell Tolls.......
Yes, Virginia, there is a toll in your future. I remember when HRBT first opened in 1957 when our great Commonwealth was under the Byrd political machine that ran on 'pay as you go': Toll was $1.25 each way. When HBRT was upgraded to interstate status in the mid-1970s, it became free, and the freeway became more and more clogged. And transportation gridlock descended upon the legislature, which responded with: No tax increases to pay for road improvements. Now look around the state and see how far we've come: right back to 'pay as you go'. Those of us who use major roads or other forms of transportation being expanded are paying the piper: HBRT, HOT lanes, Metrorail extensions -- you name it. We can argue whether it's fair or whether it makes sense. It's reality!! Free transpo is extinct! Get out your wallets, for you will pay both now and later -- unless you move a lot closer to where you work or play.
Same old, same old
The HRBT has the worst traffic. So why would the tolls on MMBT and JRB be the same? Why not make them lower to get traffic to go there? Look at the traffic on the most recent Columbus Day. NO TRAFFIC. No tourists and no military. Military will get vouchers or some increase in COLA for tolls and tourists pay the same rate as locals? Tolls from now into infinity? That is really innovative thinking right there.
No Plan
There's no transportation plan - unless you think that selling off our public roads to private businesses so that they can can charge exorbitant tolls for the next 75 years is a plan.
What happened to McD's...
sack of magic transportation beans?
It was the other guy who said all options were on the table.
McD was supposed to make it all better without those mean ol tolls.
Pay up
We all know the solution to our traffic problems isn’t going to be free. The toll will be paid. Nobody is going to like it, but if you need to use any of the crossings, you will have to pay the toll. Just like gas prices, no matter how high they go, we will continue to pay for it because we need it to drive. Right now there isn’t any viable alternative. This toll will prevent people who do drive the crossings for the “heck of it”. It will make people rethink if they really need to make that drive across the bridge. Thus reducing traffic. If you cross the bridge everyday for work and the toll is somewhat of a financial burden, guess what, you are just going to have to make concessions and sacrifices to pay the toll, you need to get to work don’t you? I’m sure there will be some type of “easy pass” system set up for frequent users, and maybe some discounts involved. But bottom line is, if you need to use the bridge you will have to pay up.
Where are the "No Birds" now?
We had a chance 6 or so years back to build the 3rd crossing for a modest tax increase but the "No Birds" rallied and killed the proposal which could endanger all of us during nature or man-made disaster evacuation. Now we will have the pain of tolls. Don't you just love these short sighted knuckle heads?
Taxes once raised, never get cut
Taxes once raised, never get cut, even after a project has been paid for over and over. At least tolls share the expense with users as opposed to locals, including alot of people that don't even drive and are not part of the problem. Why not toll. At least we can draw in some of that up North blue money while we knuckleheads keep some of our money in the bank.
much easier solution
send two carriers to Florida and shut down the terminals,problems solved.
Finally action
VDOT finally takes action to solve our transportation issues, and drivers are up in arms. What did they think? It was going to be built for FREE? Now the ball is in the legislature's court. If the citizens truly don't want to pay tolls, they need to tell their delegates they prefer to raise the gas tax etc. If you don't want to pay more gas taxes, better buy an EZ pass. I prefer raising the gas tax a penny a month for a year, but hey gas just went from $2.40 a gallon to $2.60 and we haven't built one mile of new road, but we don't whine about who's getting those dollars. Last time I looked most of our oil came from foreigners too.