HR Partnership | February 5, 2010

Reposted from the Port of Virginia’s blog: Edward L. Brown Sr., the long-time leader of the Atlantic Coast District of the International Longshoremen’s Association, died Friday Feb. 5; he was 84.

Brown spent 50 years on the Hampton Roads waterfront with the ILA, and during that career spent time solving problems and negotiating on behalf of the union from Maine to Texas. Many who knew Brown and sat on the opposite side of the table from him are quick to remember one of his favorite sayings as a negotiator: “We are in the middle of the couch.”

“I think his dedication to the ILA, and in particular the men and women he represented here, will never be matched again,” said Roger Giesinger, president of the Hampton Roads Shipping Association. “Ed led this Union to greatness with his forward-thinking and his ability to make decisions when they were not popular to all his members. Typically, these decisions were not only the right decisions, but decisions that created more jobs and more money for ILA benefits….

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Tags: Hampton Roads, HRP, Labor, Port

HR Partnership | January 29, 2010

“The real story is how many people showed up tonight; there’s real passion in the region for high speed rail. This is the most important decision in Hampton Roads for the next 50 years.” — Attendee

We're on board with High Speed Rail…

Over 500 regional residents, public officials and private citizens alike, jammed into Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Terminal on the evening of January 28^th. Only negative comment heard during this Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transit’s (DRPT) federal hearing? Not enough seats! The crowd was standing room only!

What is the economic impact of bringing high speed rail to Hampton Roads? According to Mike Barrett, Chair of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HREDA), it’s $3 Billion and 30,000 jobs. As the 36th largest metropolitan area, this region deserves high speed rail. “Proximity equates to prosperity,” said Barrett. “We will see immediate return on investment from day one.”

New DRPT Director (and former Virginia legislator and U.S. Congressman), Thelma Drake, arrived late to the event due to a disabled car in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). Drake explained that the mission of the DRPT is to expand the state’s transportation choices and increase mobility, adding that tonight’s crowd should show the federal government how critically important this project is to the citizens of the region.

Norfolk City Mayor Paul Fraim welcomed everyone and mentioned the announcement today of the $8 Billion in first-round awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program and how Virginia fared. (see White House Press Release)*

Read the full summary here, including public comments…

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Business Community, Economy, Government & Citizens, Military Bastion, Transportation, Visit HR | 6 Comments »
Tags: Economy, Environment, General Assembly, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Newport News, Norfolk, ODU, Regional, Transportation, Virginia Beach

HR Partnership | January 29, 2010

Download and read Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), Hampton Roads Review, Winter 2010

In this issue: Franklin Mill’s Closure Impact on the Region

• Hampton Roads Coastal Resources Technical Assistance Program
• Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations Passed by State Board
• Annual Regional Stormwater Effectiveness Indicators Report
• Norfolk School Awarded HR Green Project of the Year Award
• Wind Energy
• Water We Take for Granted
• How to Recycle Cooking Oil
• Climate Change Research Moves Into Second Year
• South Hampton Roads Disabilities Services Board Awarded Employment Awareness Grant
• Regional Benchmarking Study Released
• Highlights from Governor’s Housing Conference held in the Region
• Healthcare Organizations Emergency Preparedness Seminars Planned
• Hampton Roads Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Initiative
• Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Planning Underway

Download and read Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO), Crossings, Winter 2010

In this issue: Hampton Roads’ Share of Stimulus Funding

• VDOT Six-Year Improvement Program Revisions
• HRTPO Passes Resolution Supporting Regional High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
• Passenger Rail Project Seeks Public Comments
• Update on Stimulus Projects in Hampton Roads
• A Conversation with Mayor Joe Frank
• Regional Safety Study Update
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Project Selection Process 2009
• Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee to Kick Off Soon
• Partnering with CNU to Gauge Public Pulse on Transportation Issues
• Limited English Proficiency Plan

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Tags: Economy, HRPDC, HRTPO, Transportation

HR Partnership | January 28, 2010

Hampton Roads is the most populous coastal metro area in the Eastern U.S. between New York City and Miami, one of the top three East Coast ports (with potential to be the largest, developed as a Port Hub), Virginia’s largest tourist draw and the nation’s largest accumulation of military installations and assets, making us “Pentagon South.”

“Hampton Roads: it’s now your time to be heard!” – Louis Guy

On Wednesday, January 20th, a few hundred residents of Hampton Roads braved rain and traffic-riddled roads to attend the High Speed Town Meeting, sponsored by regional “think tank” Future of Hampton Roads at the Granby Theater in downtown Norfolk.

The purpose? To enlighten, enthuse and engage citizens to make their voices heard during the Dept. of Rail & Public Transit’s (DRPT) Richmond to Hampton Roads Rail Project public comment period – by mail, email and public hearing – to bring higher speed intercity rail (HSR) to Hampton Roads by way of Richmond-Petersburg, connecting our region to the Northeast HSR Corridor as the southernmost terminus.

Bobby Wright, President of The Wright Companies, hosted and emceed the event. “I appreciate the (cities) leadership working together,” said Wright.

According to panelist City of Hampton Mayor Molly Joseph Ward, this very same morning, the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) voted to hire a consultant to “get smarter about high speed rail” by enhancing DRPT’s efforts. The question is: are we missing opportunities? We’re already behind.

Panelist Louis Guy, a retired Professional Engineer and former head of City of Norfolk Department of Utilities, said, “If we do things right and we stick to it, we can have high speed rail.”

Guy shared a regional rail history, telling of “years lost and millions wasted when planners jump to conclusions.” “We’re rushing to catch up because we’re late to the game,” said Guy. He didn’t mince words when he added, “…we were let down by our leaders in Richmond.”

HRTPO leaders have risen above past failures to collaborate to put Hampton Roads at the table for federal high speed rail dollars. Guy pointed to the powerhouse Virginia Urban Crescent that incorporates Washington DC/Northern Virginia – Richmond – Hampton Roads.

Ray Taylor, retired Navy Rear Admiral and President of Future of Hampton Roads, asked the Granby crowd to “turn the page, learn from history and get engaged no; we need 1000 people to go to each public meeting and to send in comments.”

The TPO Resolution (of October 30, 2009) is historic and a “recognition of common sense” according to Taylor. It represents, not a loss to the Peninsula, but a win for the entire region.

The entire build-out of high speed rail to Hampton Roads will require incremental progress over time, and the region must insist and insure that the wording of the EIS is compatible with the Southeast HSR Corridor. “Hampton Roads was an afterthought,” said Taylor.

Taylor said that for the future of the region, he would like to see the following added to the EIS under “next steps”:

• a commitment to assess availability of one-seat, through service for North-South travel;
• a better, more specific definition of the location of the Petersburg connection; and
• a process for planning a future connection from Norfolk to Raleigh, NC, adding that NC did this many years ago for the Winston-Salem connection and got it approved.

Taylor added that Hampton Roads’ citizens must demand that the federal government invest in Virginia’s Urban Crescent first.

During Q&A, the only negative comment from the participants at Wednesday’s Town Hall? France has trains with speeds up to 350 MPH; why are we thinking so small (slow) in Hampton Roads?

In response to questions about the economic “WIN-LOSE” f we don’t get high speed rail:

“The results would be catastrophic,” said Ward. “It’s essential that we’re part o that corridor.” Hampton Roads won’t be competitive for attracting corporate headquarters (HQs), younger generation, creative lifestyles; we will be a backwater. Charlotte, NC has been working on this for years and IS attracting HQs and young people.

A good comparison is what happened during the creation of the federal highway system over 50 years ago. See which areas thrived and which died due to highway access. The military, upon which our economy is so dependent, isn’t looking at adding anything here without addressing our transportation woes, including rail. We have a good chance at rail due to our geographic proximity to Washington, DC.

According to one attendee, “This is an idea that we can make a reality; this region deserves it. What happens here affects the whole world.”

Photo credit: Clyde Hoey, The Resource Group

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Category: Government & Citizens, Military Bastion, Transportation | 2 Comments »
Tags: American Public Transportation Association, Future of Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Pentagon South

HR Partnership | January 22, 2010

Its called Vision Hampton Roads. On this edition of What Matters, the weekly public affairs talk show on WHRO TV, we take a look at a roadmap that’s taking shape to diversify and strengthen the region’s economy.

Its goal: Hampton Roads will be recognized as a region for centers of excellence fueled by innovation, intellectual and human capital, infrastructure and a sense of place.

Right now (until February 5th), the plan is seeking public comment, and you are invited to take an online survey at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com.

Joining host Cathy Lewis for the discussion: Dana Dickens, President of the Hampton Roads Partnership; Doug Smith with Kaufman & Canoles, and Dwight Farmer, Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

Click on the graphic to see the video on YouTube, visit iTunes and download or watch at http://WhatMatters.tv.

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Arts & Culture, Business Community, Economy, Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens, HR History, Military Bastion, Research & Technology, Transportation, Visit HR | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Port, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia

HR Partnership | January 12, 2010

by Brendan O’Hallarn Wednesday, originally posted on WYDaily.com December 16, 2009

I’m sitting here at my computer, and can barely type because my fingers are still trembling with rage.

Indulge me with this rant. Regular readers of Tunnel Vision know that I’m pretty philosophical about traffic jams, and spend most of my time in the column poking fun at my own foibles.

Today, I do not feel like laughing.

So far this week, three of my four commutes have stretched to two hours….

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Tags: Transportation

HR Partnership | January 11, 2010

by Philip Newswanger, Inside Business

Here’s your chance to comment on the region’s first comprehensive economic development strategy.

Go to VisionHamptonRoads.com and fill in the questionnaire. The comment period lasts until Feb. 5.

The strategy will make the region eligible for grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, to which the plan will be submitted. And the strategy will serve as a blueprint for the future economic growth of the region.

Spearheaded by the Hampton Roads Partnership, the strategy took six months to compile and involved 150 community leaders in four committees.

“We all got real excited and said this is what Hampton Roads needs to align our organizations, our municipalities, our industries – to align the region under some common goals and objectives,” said Dana Dickens, President and CEO of the Partnership.

Two-thirds of the region’s economy is based on federal spending, the port and tourism, Dickens said.

“We are blessed in one sense,” Dickens said. “But it makes us more vulnerable in another sense.”

Dickens said that the loss of an aircraft carrier or the closure of NAS Oceana would take a tremendous toll on the region’s economy.

So the region needs to diversify its economic base, he said.

The concept was to formulate a strategy around maintaining and growing the three pillars of the economy while adding a fourth one, which Dickens called opportunities to grow the economy.

“We took those four categories and developed committees,” Dickens said. “We got 150 of the best and brightest [individuals] in the region” on the committees.

Larry Filer, associate professor of economics at Old Dominion University, completed a SWOT (strength, weaknesses opportunities, threats) analysis for the group, Dickens said.

“We put the SWOT analysis in front of the four committees and took notes,” Dickens said.

To give the plan a brand, it was named Vision Hampton Roads.

“The focus is to align the economic units, the organizations, the people who are engaged in the economy of Hampton Roads,” Dickens said.

The plan will be submitted to the federal government in February after the public comment period.

The committees began meeting during the summer. Each committee has met five times.

Dickens said the plan is transformational in two areas.

“For the Hampton Roads Partnership, this will be our work plan,” Dickens said. “I hope it’s going to be transformational for the region in the fact that we align around this common vision.

“I hope we develop these economies of scale that everyone knows are important for the region. We need to get in the mode of thinking, acting and living in one region. We’re all regional citizens, and we hope this will be a step toward that.

“We are competitive as a regional economy,” Dickens said. “We are less competitive when we compete as individual localities. If we are working for the same goals and objectives, it will help diversify our economy.

“There’s no effort here to change what cities and counties are doing,” Dickens said. “What’s good for one city or county is good for all of us.”

The committees were led by the following individuals: J. Robert Bray, Kaufman & Canoles Consulting LLC; Arthur L. Collins, former executive director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; Rob Cross, Virginia Arts Festival; Russell Held, Virginia Port Authority; and Roy Whitney, Jefferson Lab.

Article originally posted on Inside Business, Januray 8, 2010: http://www.insidebiz.com/news/thinking-acting-living-one

Others, thus far, who are helping to spread the word to enlist Public Comment are:

• City of Chesapeake http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/
• City of Newport News http://nngov.com/
• City of Williamsburg http://www.ci.williamsburg.va.us/
• College of William & Mary http://swem.wm.edu/
• County of James City http://www.jccegov.com/
• Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement http://hrcce.org
• Hampton Roads Performs http://hamptonroadsperforms.org/
• Hampton Roads Planning District Commission http://www.hrpdc.org/Public_Notices.asp
• Hampton Roads Research Partnership http://hamptonroadsrp.org/
• Hampton Roads Technology Council http://hrtc.org
• My Hampton Roads Blog http://myhamptonroads.blogspot.com/
• Patchwork Nation http://www.pbs.org/newshour/patchworknation/
• Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily http://www.wydaily.com/local-news/3671-regional-group-has-plan-now-wants-public-feedback.html

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Tags: Economy, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion

HR Partnership | January 7, 2010

The Future of Hampton Roads, Inc. (FHR) has set another Town Meeting on High-Speed Rail, free and open to everyone in Hampton Roads, on Wednesday, January 20th at 5:30 p.m. at the Granby Theater (421 Granby Street, downtown Norfolk).

2020 Vision: Will We See High-Speed Rail in Hampton Roads Multimodal Transportation Future?

Keynote Speaker is Bob McDonnell, who will be sworn in as Governor of Virginia prior to the meeting (invited, confirmation pending).

Panelists include:

• Hon. John Cosgrove, Delegate, Virginia General Assembly, and Member, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (invited, confirmation pending)
• Hon. Molly Ward, Mayor, City of Hampton and Vice Chair, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization
• David Tollaksen, Chairman, Drakkar America and former Member, National Transportation Safety Board and High-Speed Ground Transportation Association
• Louis Guy, Professional Engineer, and former head of City of Norfolk Department of Utilities
• Ray Taylor, President, Future of Hampton Roads, Inc.

The purpose of the FHR town meeting is to urge the citizens of Hampton Roads to listen to issues, get answers and prepare to speak up for High-Speed Rail for Hampton Roads at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) public hearing in Richmond on January 26th and local public hearings on January 27th and 28th in Newport News and Norfolk.

In October, the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization endorsed a route from Norfolk to Richmond along Route 460 south of the James River and to enhance existing passenger rail from Newport News to Richmond. A final plan will be approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The region is seeking money in the stimulus package Congress passed last winter to help fund High-Speed Rail.

Local forums:

• Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, 5:30–8 p.m., at City Center Conference Facilities, James and Warwick Rooms, 700 Town Center Drive, Newport News
• Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, 5:30–8 p.m., at Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk

From DRPT, December 4, 2009 – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) have published the Richmond/Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project Tier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for review and comment.

The draft document has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is subject to change until the document is accepted by the EPA and a Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register.

The Richmond/Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project is evaluating options to improve passenger rail service between Richmond and Hampton Roads. The Tier I draft EIS provides an overview and comparison of the potential alternatives, with information on the cost, ridership, environmental impacts and infrastructure improvements associated with each option.

For more information on the Richmond/Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project or to review the Tier I draft EIS, visit www.drpt.virginia.gov/projects/hamptonpassenger.aspx.

About DRPT
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is the state agency for rail, public transportation and commuter services in Virginia. DRPT has three business areas: rail, transit, and congestion management that help improve the mobility of people and goods while providing more transportation choices.

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Tags: FHR, Hampton Roads, Rail, Transportation

HR Partnership | January 5, 2010

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
January 5 – February 5, 2010

The Vision Hampton Roads document (draft) was released on January 5, 2010.

This will begin the 30-day public comment period required by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). You can view/download the document, i.e., our regional roadmap, at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com. We encourage you to take the Public Comment Survey and pass this link along to your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

During the next 30 days, the plan’s link will appear on the websites of many regional organizations. We are encouraging the 17 local governments, 3 planning partner organizations (i.e., Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, and Hampton Roads Research Partnership) and others to post and pass along the link as well. We’re depending on your word-of-mouth (and email) to help create meaningful public participation in order to promote democracy and civic engagement, build public trust in government and enhance credibility within the community.

The Vision document is the product of over eight months of work, involving over 150 community volunteers who served on one or more of the 5 committees/sub-committees established to develop or oversee the plan. Presentations have been and will continue to be made during this period to organizations and local government leaders. News media outlets have already and will continue to post editorials and articles or air interviews focused on Vision Hampton Roads.

A Public Responsiveness Summary will follow the 30-day comment period, showing respondents how their feedback impacts the plan. In early February, the final document will be developed for final review, approval and submission to the EDA.

Vision planning has placed Hampton Roads on a path to regional transformation by embedding a working process in all that we do…
to think, live and act regionally.

Thank you,

E. Dana Dickens, III
President & CEO, Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP)

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Arts & Culture, Business Community, Economy, Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens, HR History, Military Bastion, Research & Technology, Transportation, Visit HR | 2 Comments »
Tags: Economy, Government, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Port, Tourism

HR Partnership | January 4, 2010

Click on photo above for a chart of North American Port Container Traffic (2008), including Hampton Roads’ ranking.

by Kurt Nagle, President/CEO of American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)

Today, as we confront a host of national challenges — chief among them, recovery from the current economic crisis — there is a clear and critical role for our seaports.

Deep-draft ports — coastal and fresh water — are dynamic, vibrant centers of trade and commerce that rely on partnerships, both public (e.g., national and local governments) and private (e.g., shipping lines, tenants, investors and stakeholders).

In the U.S., seaports invest more than $2.5 Billion annually to maintain and enhance their infrastructure….

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Tags: Economy, Military Bastion, Port, Transportation