Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Future Shock

This morning I attended the meeting of the TPO's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC). TTAC is so absurdly dry that I don't blog on the meetings as such. (Ever listen to two hours plus of a roomful of engineers talking about transportation projects?) However, this morning there was a Presentation on the TPO's ongoing Congestion Management Process (CMP) that was a cold bucket of water in the face. A couple things from it that should sound alarm bells:

1. By 2030 virtually all of Hampton Roads' interstate network will be Severely Congested, at Grades E or F. The kicker: even that forecast is based on all of the road projects in the current 2030 Plan being completed by then. (Uh...I don't think so.)

For those who think no one will ride light rail, they will within a generation. We need to have the trunk lines of a regional light rail system on the ground by then.

2. For all of the talk about the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), better pay more attention to the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel (MMBT). The MMBT's rush hour volumes are within 10%-12% of the HRBT, as it simply manages it better given that there are fewer ramps near the facility. Also, MMBT traffic overall is growing 4%-5% annually.

You can no longer speak of The Third Crossing as a "want". It's definitely a need. Expanding the HRBT alone would face having it constrained by the same interchanges that give it more problems than the MMBT today.

8 comments:

thesh00ter said...

what do u think about what Fmr Mayor Frank was saying on the news Tues about the 3rd crossing?

Avenging Archangel said...

Shooter,

What channel and what did he say? I might be able to find the video on their website.

thesh00ter said...

it was on WVEC 13. i believe i can't remember if it was mon or tues. i want to say mon.

thesh00ter said...

http://www.wvec.com/traffic/news/A-third-crossing-At-least-15-years-away-97866174.html

thought i'd help u out a little in case u didn't find it

Avenging Archangel said...

Thanks. Amusing. In addressing the TPO on proposed passenger ferry service across the harbor, I said it would be at least 15 years before we got LRT across the harbor.

As Frank was then Newport News' TPO rep, think he was listening? :)

thesh00ter said...

but tell me Henry, is there ever a break down point where the leaders will say: "that's it, we need to do something no matter wat the cost is." or is it going to be like Mrs. Miller said in that same news video, that until the people start standing up and saying what they want or ur (leaders) out of here. or would it be a little of both?

Avenging Archangel said...

Shooter,

You never do a project regardless of costs. However, Yvonne Miller is correct on the political side: until the General Assembly knows they have enough public support to act, they probably won't.

thesh00ter said...

see that's another concern i have. it's like the public\citizens don't get that part. now mind u they've flooded the GA with emails a couple of years ago about the raise in fines and tickets, but they won't say anything about the traffic. yeah they'll complain but to the wrong people and the wrong way. another thing i'm concerned with is that there hasn't been or probably not going to be a special session for transportation. whats the story behind that? I like McDonnell but he's focused more on NoVA then he is HR when it comes to transportation. it's just so frustrating to drive home from work in Toano, get caught in the Ft. Eustis traffic; then get through that to only get caught in the HRBT eastbound traffic sometimes backed up to LaSalle Ave. now that's just on the Peninsula. it's 10 times as worse on the Southside. but as soon as something like LR is mentioned or a tax that specifically covers transportation expenses what do the citizens do? complain complain complain. there's got to be a breaking point somewhere. of course taxes are out of the question now that McDonnell is at the helm.