The Virginian-Pilot
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Our locally notorious Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is a national celebrity. The often-snarled crossing was ranked the fifth-most-congested corridor in the country in an analysis by the Texas Transportation Institute. The only stretches of highway topping the HRBT were in New York and Atlanta.
"No surprise - none," said Dwight Farmer, chief of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization. "Particularly for how bad the backup is and how long it will last."
Driving from Hampton to Norfolk scored worse than traveling the opposite direction. Farmer and his team of traffic engineers are scratching their heads over that one but suspect it's because eastbound gridlock on Interstate 64 is more predictable, especially in the mornings.
The report says it takes rush-hour commuters more than five times longer than off-peak drivers to clear the tunnel.
What's that saying about 15 minutes of fame? You'll spend longer stuck in traffic.
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Here we go again.
The report that came out some years ago said that the Mid Town tunnel was the most congested two lane road East of the Mississippi. After that ERC (Elizabeth River Crossings) was born to save us from our traffic woes, BUT would do this for us and charge a toll to pay for it. Here we are today with an agreement a year behind schedule just being signed and all the plans aren't even done. I give it six months and we will read that the bids for the PPTA (Public Private Transportation Act)Project of the H.R.B.T. are ready to go and charge a toll in upwards of $6 oneway for cars for 50+ years. Notice to all career elected officials: That idea to get that photo op with you taking away the tolls in the 70s and 80s wasn't such a great idea.
There's hope
With notoriety like this, maybe we'll get some added notice along with some more funds from somewhere to correct this problem. Squeaky wheels get the grease. With all the federal traffic that uses the HRBT, you'd think the feds would find some money somewhere to fix it. If some admiral or some other high ranking officer gets stuck in traffic long enough, maybe they'll scream loud enough to get some action. As it is, the situation is only going to get worse.
Is it any wonder? For years
Is it any wonder? For years the moribund HRTPO and Mayor Paul Fraim et. al. continue to push for road projects like the so-called Third Crossing (renamed Patriot Crossing as if it mattered). The TPO would rather create two new bottlenecks. One at The MM Bridge where traffic will have to merge in to cross, and then at I-564 to merge in and compete with the Naval Base traffic. Yet, no one wants to touch the HRBT. These folks are trying to impress the big-shots that run the port. Expand the HRBT. That is what needs to be done.
One consideration would be for people to pay attention to driving, keep up their speed, hang up the cell phone, and quit texting. NVA gets the lions share of transportation dollars anyway. That formula needs to change.
Really!!
How much money was spent to figure this out? Everyone in HR already knew this!!! Come on!
Quantatively Awful.
Reading the fine print of the report to see what their metrics actually mean:
The "Planning Time Index" of 5.28 for the HRBT means that for a 30-minute trip in light traffic, 158 minutes should be planned.
The "Buffer Index" of 198 percent means that for a trip that takes 30 minutes on average, an extra hour should be planned.
400,000 person-hours wasted in traffic per mile per year, 900,000 gallons of fuel wasted per year.
And yet, the state's long-term investment major transporation projects does not agree with the situation that was obvious long before this report. Just take a look at Virginia's web site of transportation "megaprojects" and note the complete lack of any projects south of Quantico. http://www.vamegaprojects.com/
MISSED MY MEANING
Ok, I knew I would get attacked. What I am simply saying is, when I moved here, I moved into the area where I worked. It was my choice. If you are in the military and you are in military housing in Newport News, then you are right, you have no choice, remeber I said it was my choice. The traffic is a nightmare. If you have a job that transferrs you or requires you to go through the tunnels, then you are trapped. But being trapped is a problem that requires you to solve your problem. If you bought a house in Portsmouth and choose to work in Norfolk, it is a choice you made. when I say live in the area you work, it means just that, you make the cloice, if you choose a job that requires going through the tunnels, it is a choice you make.
Signs
Hopefully the Citys of Norfolk and Hampton along with VDOT and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Commission can create signs to post around the HRBT advising travelers that they are about to encounter a historical experience in traveling one of the most congested corridors in the country. Maybe encourage them to have their cameras ready for this experience. They post their signs for "All American City" and so in so is "5 time state champions", etc. so why not. And they will now be charging us admission (toll) to be a part of this experience.
Couple Ideas
Not sure if it can be much worse than 95 south leaving DC...once I move from there I vow never to drive there again. Second, there needs to be more public transportation, ie trains, metros that could make it easier and move more people quicker and more effiecent than cars. The rest of the world does it. I know it the US and you have to get in your car for a 5 mile ride, it is also the south where most people associtate pulbic transportation with being poor.
TUNNEL DELAYS
HRBT is an inaminate object that does not reason or think on its own. The majority of delays at the tunnel are caused by the drivers who use the tunnel. Distracted drivers on phones or texting, not paying attention and causing fender benders, driving vehicles that breakdown, and my favorite of all - immediately slowing down from the posted speed limit or what speed the traffic is moving and immediately slowing another 1015 mph below that. Pay attention and drive efficiently.
If you people worked harder and pulled yourself up
by the boot straps you could buy yourself a helicopter. You 99% are always gripping. :o)