HJR 711: Joint Subcommittee Studying the Transportation Network of Hampton Roads

November 10, 2009

The joint subcommittee met at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) in Suffolk. Delegate Chris Jones, chairman, called the meeting to order.

Chairman Jones explained that when the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) began seeking to prioritize proposed transportation improvement projects for the region, he had discussed with VMASC and the joint subcommittee the possibility of developing a list of transportation metrics for assessing network benefits for improvements to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the following six proposed projects:

• Widening of I-64 on the Peninsula.
• Construction of the Third Crossing between the Peninsula and Southside Hampton Roads.
• The Southeast Parkway/Dominion Project from Virginia Beach to Chesapeake.
• Widening I-64 in Southside from Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake to Bowers Hill in Suffolk.
• Widening the Midtown Tunnel and extending the MLK Freeway to I-264.
• Improving U.S. 460.

This was done with the goal of providing for an objective analysis that allows a comparison of each of the assessed alternatives.

Presentation

Mike Robinson, VMASC Senior Project Scientist
Mr. Robinson explained that metrics would most likely be employed in VMASC's analysis and presented a draft timeline for the project:

• December 1, 2009: official project start.
• February 10, 2010: briefing on proposed metrics.
• May 2010: accident-incident forecast complete.
• August 2010: peak-hour matrix complete.
• September 2010: congestion analysis.
• October 2010: accident-incident predictions integrated into model.
• December 2010: final report.

Final Recommendation

The Chairman will offer legislation during the 2010 Session to extend the joint subcommittee's mandate for an additional year to monitor VMASC's work and its impact on the Hampton Roads MPO's transportation project priorities.

Chairman:
The Hon. S. Chris Jones

For information, contact:
Alan Wambold, Caroline Stalker , DLS Staff