Hampton Roads News 
Name: Russell Manning
Date registered: April 28, 2009
URL: http://www.757hamptonroads.com
Apr
21
I once read a comment on an article about our new light rail that said something to the effect that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to Charlotte, NC because it is not the same situation. I finally found the right statistic to refute that and to show why Hampton Roads is already doing better than Charlotte.
photo of Charlotte’s Light RailPopulation:
Population Density:
Now, you might be tempted to think that their higher population and density contributed to their having 181% of their first year projected ridership. I’m sure that has contributed to the large ridership, but consider this:
Total Commuters:
Percent of Commuters using Public Transportation excluding Taxis:
In other words, despite their larger population and larger number of commuters, Hampton Roads has a larger percentage of commuters using public transit. Charlotte also faced a large number of cost-overruns and delays and even a referendum to reject the half-cent transportation sales tax (tax funds mass transit in the region). The referendum would have essentially killed all future Charlotte Light Rail. Fortunately, despite a large amount of public outcry against the project, the referendum failed by 70%.
Hampton Roads can do this. Even more-so if the Beach gets on board. I do think that Norfolk needs to look at a larger parking deck for the Newtown Road Station. Charlotte’s end-of-the-line 1,120 space deck fills up by 8:15 AM.
Russell is a Political Science major at ODU, a Hampton Roads Magazine Top Ten Blogger at 757 Hampton Roads, and a Hampton Roads Partnership Intern.
Dec
09
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim addresses the group.
Dennis W. Heuer (VDOT Hampton Roads District Administrator), Pierce R. Homer (Virginia Secretary of Transportation), and Randy Boice (Project Manager) addressed a group of citizens and elected officials at Granby High School in Norfolk, VA tonight. The first of two meetings was held last week at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, VA.
Mr. Boice gave very detailed, informative explanations of each alternative including the strengths and weaknesses of each as follows:
Alternative 1: at $2.2 Billion was the least costly, but would not meet Federal Highway requirements prohibiting two-way traffic within the same undivided tunnel.
Alternative 2: meets Federal Highway requirements for minimal extra cost (adds $100 Million) by making the middle tube reversible during rush hour, however the traffic pattern on I-64 does not allow for reversible lanes. There is equal traffic in each direction, making it difficult to reverse the lanes.
Alternatives #3 and #4 are the two most practical and the most costly at $3.3 Billion each.
Alternative 3: constructs a four-lane tunnel to accommodate all east-bound traffic and converts both existing tubes to carry only west-bound traffic.
Alternative 4: constructs a four-lane tunnel and reserve a lane in each direction to be used for a dedicated right-of-way transit service, either a bus way or, more preferably (in Secretary Homer’s opinion), an extension for the Light rail line.
Alternative 5: constructs a two-lane suspension bridge, a mile in length and high enough for cargo ships and aircraft carriers to pass underneath. It would require reversible lanes, which not only fails the Federal Highway regulations but, due to the lower speed needed for the two-lane tube, the time benefit is shown not be worth the money spent. It also has “adverse … aerodynamics,” similar to the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed in Washington State four months after it opened in 1940. Proper reinforcement would bring this bridge to the same cost as a four-lane bridge. (see #6)
Alternative 6: constructs a four-lane suspension bridge, which saves $100 million over the four-lane tunnel option. However, it was noted that the Navy would never approve it. Constructing a bridge over the only exit for the majority of the Atlantic Fleet would be a terrorist attack waiting to happen, also adding fuel to Florida’s case to move aircraft carriers away from Hampton Roads.
Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff and Councilman Dr. Richard W. West attended.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, who objected to any and all plans to widen HRBT, stating that the region has already determined that the Third Crossing was the best option, better during an evacuation, a plus for military mobility, and it would draw traffic away from the HRBT, lessening traffic jams. Any HRBT widening project in the current footprint would disrupt the Willoughby area.
Senator John Miller and Delegate Paula Miller were present to support the project, stating that we need to plan for the future and not just alleviate current problems. Delegate Miller inquired if the HRBT project or the Third Crossing would be eligible to receive funding under the proposed stimulus programs from President-elect Barack Obama. Mr. Homer replied that neither project would be eligible as they are not ready for immediate construction.
Bobby Mathieson of Virginia Beach stressed that the community needs to continue to talk about solutions. Virginia Beach’s Vice Mayor Louis Jones stated that he did not support any project that was not previously supported by the MPO.
Norfolk councilman Randy Wright took a minute to publicly thank Mr. Homer for supporting the Norfolk Light Rail project.
Hampton councilwoman Angela Leary stressed that as a supporter of personal property rights, she would like to discuss further alternatives with Norfolk and the Peninsula.
Mr. Homer strongly supports a multi-modal tube in any expansion to make it more attractive to the Region.
Russell is a Political Science major at ODU, a Hampton Roads Magazine Top Ten Blogger at 757 Hampton Roads, and a Hampton Roads Partnership Intern.
