HR Partnership | March 17, 2010

by Chris Bonney, owner of Bonney & Company, an independent marketing research firm

For years our region has been content to let its public transit infrastructure dwindle to the point that it is used only by the poor, the handicapped, the elderly and others who have no other choice. In some ways, we are a victims of our own affluence. The price paid for suburban sprawl is low population density that makes it difficult to provide cost-efficient public transportation.

But, in fact, our poor public transportation system is doing us even greater harm, particularly as we work to create a reputation for our region as a dynamic, progressive and fluid place to do business.

The other night my wife and I had dinner at a friend’s home with a young man from Chile who is doing research at Jefferson Lab and taking classes at Christopher Newport University as part of his Master’s degree program. He will only be in Hampton Roads for six months. Yet he is attempting to be part of our community in the same ways he was when he studied in Switzerland and France. As time allows, he attends local events and plays in two of the region’s smaller symphony orchestras.

This young man has a modern, international perspective and a bright future. He will “go places” in life. He will take and spread impressions of the Hampton Roads region with him wherever he goes in the world.

Unfortunately, the impression he is getting about our region is that we care very little about those who do not have or wish to use automobiles…. Read more…

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Transportation | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Sense of Place, Transportation

HR Partnership | March 17, 2010

by Missy Schmidt, Communication Manager, Hampton Roads Partnership

From WTKR-TV3: New survey ranks Hampton Roads 4 out of 100 when it comes to car dependency, and Hampton Roads drivers know a thing or two about sitting in traffic. A new survey gives high marks to drivers stuck in the Hampton Roads traffic jam. Men’s Health’s Motor Cities, USA Poll gives the Virginia Beach area an ‘A-’ on its list of most car-crazed metro areas. Hampton Roads ranks number four on the list of 100 areas surveyed.

The magazine looked at the number of people who used the government’s Cash for Clunkers program, the amount of money spent on car care and repair, and the availability and usefulness of public transportation.

Most traveling in Hampton Roads requires a trip over a bridge or through a tunnel, or both, suggesting those in Hampton Roads are more dependent on their cars than drivers in other areas. <end WTKR>

I took a look at this article in depth and found it very interesting as to who our “peer” metro areas in car-craziness were:

#1 – Arlington, TX
#2 – San Jose, CA
#3 – Sioux Falls, SD
#4 – Virginia Beach, VA (actually the Hampton Roads MSA)
#5 – Anchorage, AK
#6 – Salt Lake City, UT
#7 – Charlotte, NC
#8 – Austin, TX
#9 – Fargo, ND
#10 – Riverside, CA

While Hampton Roads has certainly compared itself to the likes of Charlotte, I doubt that anyone would have thought to compare the region to sparsely populated areas such as Alaska or the Dakotas.

Unfortunately, Men’s Health didn’t bother to use a real picture from the region; instead showing what appears to be a Pacific coastal shot of a winding road with small mountains and thunderous waves. The old convertible pictured was pretty cool, though.

This survey / article is one more example of the Hampton Roads region’s identity crisis, not to mention the public transit issues. It’s been said on more than one occasion: if you are in a Port/maritime- or DoD/defense-related industry anywhere in the world, then you know Hampton Roads. Not so much with other industry sectors.

SmartRegion: we’ve got work to do.

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Transportation | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Sense of Place, Transportation

HR Partnership | February 21, 2010

Bumper-to-bumper traffic is America’s collective nightmare, and like the movie Groundhog Day it repeats on a daily basis.

Congestion consumes billions of gallons of fuel, wastes hundreds of billions of dollars in productivity and causes billions of stress headaches. Yet over 100 million automobile commuters each day feel like they have little option. “We put so much of our national wealth and our identity into the whole motoring thing,” says James Howard Kunstler, author of Geography of Nowhere, “that we can’t imagine doing something different.”

Anthony Downs, author of Stuck in Traffic has identified four reasons for America’s congestion problem, also applicable to most European and Asian economies:

• first, most of us work during the same hours of the day;
• second, the country’s economic success has allowed households to buy multiple cars;
• third, there are more people now than when most roadways were conceived;
• fourth, more cars means more accidents which means more delays.

In other words, this problem isn’t going anywhere. …

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Transportation | 2 Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, HRTPO, Transportation

HR Partnership | February 10, 2010

$1 Million for Craney Island Included in President’s Budget

from the Port of Virginia; for larger, downloadable images, click on each graphic

The development of Craney Island Marine Terminal has taken another step forward as $1 million for the project has been included in the President’s proposed 2010-2011 federal budget.

“This, we believe, clearly demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to this strategic project,” said Jerry A. Bridges, executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Our thanks goes to the White House and to Virginia’s delegation on Capitol Hill that pushed for inclusion in the budget. Reaching this point required tremendous effort and we truly appreciate it.

“When you look at this project as a whole, it will be very good for Virginia and the national economy. It will create jobs and taxable wages near- and long-term, and reduce the cost of getting goods to the store shelves.”

A study conducted in 2005 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the long-term benefit of building Craney Island Marine Terminal would be savings of $6 billion that would not have to be invested by the federal government in large transportation infrastructure projects. The study says the project would generate 54,000 jobs with wages of $1.7 billion and local tax revenues of $155 million.

“There is no doubt that this project is important to The Port of Virginia, with benefits well beyond the Commonwealth,” said U.S. Sen. Jim Webb. “The President’s budget demonstrates a commitment to continued federal investment in the development and expansion of Craney Island. At the same time, we continue to believe that the merits of the project argue strongly for federal funding at levels even higher than those proposed by the President.”

Construction of the Craney Island Marine Terminal is a $2.2 billion multiphase project that will result in the newest, most modern marine terminal in the United States: a 600-acre complex encompassing 8,400 linear feet of berth space, 20 Suez-class cranes and an on-terminal intermodal (rail) container transfer facility [ICTF]. The marine terminal will be built in three phases over the next 20-25 years and upon completion have capacity for at least 2.5 million TEUs.

“I am pleased that the President’s budget recognizes the economic importance that the development of Craney Island has for Virginia and the nation,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. “This vital infrastructure investment will create thousands of jobs in the region and enhance our competitiveness in the global economy. While this proposed funding advances the expansion effort for Craney Island, I will continue working with my colleagues in the Congressional delegation to press for additional federal support for this initiative.”

Work on the first phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2011 and finish in 2019 or 2020. This phase includes 220 acres of container yard, 3,000 linear feet of berth space, eight cranes and the ICTF.

“Expanding Craney Island will have huge benefits for Hampton Roads and our national economy and this funding demonstrates that the Administration is committed to making this project a priority,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye.

The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, reporting to the state Secretary of Transportation. The VPA owns and operates four general cargo facilities on behalf of the state: Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port in Warren County. The terminals are operated by Virginia International Terminals, Inc. (VIT) the non-stock, non-profit operating company. The VPA, through terminal earnings generated by VIT, is operationally self-sufficient. The VPA and correlating maritime industry is responsible for 343,000 jobs, $41 billion in total revenues throughout the Commonwealth.

Ever wonder how this new terminal will be built? See this presentation by the Army Corps of Engineers.

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Category: Economy, Transportation | 1 Comment »
Tags: Economy, Hampton Roads, Transportation, Virginia 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 | 7 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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Category: Economy, Transportation | No Comments »
Tags: Economy, HRPDC, HRTPO, Transportation

HR Partnership | January 26, 2010

“…run for the right reasons; don’t worry about regional decisions at the next local election.” — Hampton Mayor Molly Ward LEAD Hampton Roads (LHR), the oldest and largest business leadership network in the region, sponsored a Regional Governance Panel recently at the Town Point Club in Norfolk. The panel was moderated by Joel Rubin, LHR Class of 2000.

Panelists included:

• Bryan Collins (LHR ‘00), Councilman-City of Chesapeake and Former Board Member, Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA)
• Jim Oliver, Former City Manager-Cities of Hampton, Norfolk and Portsmouth
• Doug Smith, Councilman-City of Portsmouth and Member, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
• Molly Joseph Ward, Mayor-City of Hampton and Vice-Chair, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
• Jim Wood, Councilman-City of Virginia Beach and Board Chair, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT)

The panel started off with one of the benefits of graduating from LHR – learning that “regionalism” is a good thing.

There are more than just time challenges to serving on regional boards. At election time, citizens think about what officials did for them locally, not regionally, imperiling one at the ballot box for tough “regional” decisions. A large amount of city budgets go into regional agencies.

Leadership is about citizenship; citizens taking responsibility. “Can we build a culture to get to ‘YES’?” asked Oliver. “How many more regional failures do we need?”

Discussion included HRT, SPSA, HRTPO, Hampton Roads Sanitary District (HRSD), budget cuts, audience questions and more…

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Category: Government & Citizens | 1 Comment »
Tags: Chesapeake, Hampton, Hampton Roads, HRSD, HRT, Norfolk, Portsmouth, SPSA, Transportation

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 21, 2010

Daily Press Guest editorial: What Yogi Berra said applies now to Virginia and Hampton Roads: “The future ain’t what it used to be”

by James Oliver

On Sunday, Nov. 8, 1953, the New York Times carried a story titled “Tunnel Plan gains at Hampton Roads.” Meanwhile, Yogi Berra, a famous New York Yankees baseball player, had already won the first of his four Most Valuable Player awards.

Four years later, on Nov. 2, 1957, the Times included an article about “the tunnel that connects Norfolk and Hampton.” By then, Yogi had caught Don Larsen’s historic perfect World Series game.

Yogi, a simple, talented man, and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, a vision that became a reality, frame my future as I try to think about where we are headed in Hampton Roads.

Yogi said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” Here are a few things I see, some dimly, some starkly….

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Government & Citizens, Military Bastion | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Transportation

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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Category: Transportation | No Comments »
Tags: Transportation