Welcome
The Regional Connectors Study focuses on Hampton Roads connectivity through the lenses of congestion relief, economic vitality, resiliency, accessibility, and quality of life. The study will provide a long-term vision for connectivity improvements between the Peninsula and Southside, with recommendations for segment tiering and projects for further evaluation.
Please review the information presented in our online open house and provide any final input you have on our study recommendations. And find out how you can continue to have a say in the future of travel beyond the Regional Connectors Study!
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About the Study
The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) kicked off the Regional Connectors Study (RCS) in June 2018 with funding from the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. The RCS builds upon the work examined in the Hampton Roads Crossing Study Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement which recommended expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, currently under construction.
Five segments were evaluated in the RCS, shown in the map. Segment 1b, I-664 widening from Bower’s Hill Interchange to College Drive, is advancing in a separate study and is part of the RCS 2045 baseline transportation network. The remaining segments have been evaluated and are recommended for Tier I or Tier II as described below.
What is Tiering?
The RCS will recommend segments that are ready to move forward and appear the most cost-effective in Tier I. Segments that require further refinement and have hurdles to advancing are Tier II recommendations.
Segments recommended for HRTPO to evaluate for the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
HRTPO will evaluate, prioritize, and assess if there is enough reasonably available funding as compared to other evaluated priorities
Segments recommended for HRTPO to include in the Regional Transportation Vision Plan
HRTPO may not evaluate and prioritize these segments, but they will be eligible for future study
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation
The study team looked at qualitative and quantitative factors when making their recommendations. Qualitative factors are things that can’t be precisely measured such as difficulty of permitting and project readiness. Quantitative evaluation includes things that can be measured such as reduced congestion and economic benefits like savings in travel time and reduced operating costs.
Benefits are measured relative to the cost of the segments and indexed for comparison.
Quantitative Evaluation
Congestion Benefits
Economic Benefits
Segment Costs
Readiness
Project Readiness considers the ability of the project to proceed independent of other segments, status in plans and funding programs, and integration with the region’s managed lane network.
Qualitative Evaluation
Permitting Issues
Permitting Issues consider the projected social and environmental impacts and the complexity of environmental permits and related factors that will add to the time, cost, and effort for project implementation.
Greater Growth Stress Test
The final analysis was to conduct a stress test on the tiered segments. Because of uncertainty about the future (2045), the study team tested the segment projects through three greater growth scenarios that incorporate different assumptions about the future including greater regional growth by 2045, alternative land use patterns, differences in freight demand, and adoption of emerging transportation technology. The Tier I segment projects were tested in greater detail to evaluate their ability to successfully handle future traffic demand in all scenarios, focusing on the interstate highways and harbor crossings.
Stress Test Findings
The findings of the stress test analyses confirmed the study recommendations:
- The Tier 1 segments provide the most regional congestion and economic benefits relative to cost in all scenarios.
- The Tier 1 segments operate effectively to reduce harbor crossing congestion in all the regional scenarios.
- The Tier 2 segments have greater congestion and economic benefits when more regional growth is modeled, underscoring their potential value in the long term.
What We Heard
Earlier this year, we held open house meetings, an online open house, and a regional symposium to gather input. We asked community members to share insights on the potential benefits and burdens of the segment projects and the ways to balance the two.
Benefits
- Lower travel times
- Access to jobs
- Bus reliability (especially with express lanes)
- Access to tourism, services & education
- Shorter travel routes
Burdens
- Construction impacts
- Adjacent property impacts
- Environmental impacts
- Visual impacts
- Tolls/costs
Balancing
- Communication regarding construction
- Bike and pedestrian safety at ramps and crossings
- Add recreation access and features
- Manage various construction impacts
Tiering Recommendations
The Regional Connectors Study Steering (Policy) Committee and Working Group recommend the following:
1a. I-664 Widening
2. VA 164 Widening
3. VA 164 Connector
4. I-564 Connector
5. I-664 Connector
Segment 1a
I-664 Widening
Project Description:
Add four new southbound travel lanes over the harbor and through a parallel tunnel west of the existing facility and convert the existing facility to four northbound lanes. For the over-land portions, widen two-lanes in each direction. Throughout the entire length of improvement, convert two lanes in each direction to express lanes (high-occupancy/toll lanes).
Estimated Cost: $3.9 Billion*
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Analysis
Rating
Quantitative
Findings - Benefits relative to cost
High
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment readiness
High
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment ease of permitting
Medium
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Qualitative Evaluation:
This segment has the best readiness rating, in part because it completes the Hampton Roads Express Lane network. This segment has environmental permitting issues that include community and potential Environmental Justice impacts on the peninsula and the environmental permitting challenges of a bridge/tunnel harbor crossing.
Quantitative Evaluation:
In the quantitative analysis, this segment has the largest overall benefits to congestion and to the economy. The segment rates well on cost-effectiveness despite its high cost.
What do you think?
Segment 2
VA 164 Widening
Project Description:
Widen existing four-lane VA 164 to a six-lane facility, using existing right-of-way to the extent possible.
Estimated Cost: $174 Million*
Analysis
Rating
Quantitative
Findings - Benefits relative to cost
High
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment readiness
Medium
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment ease of permitting
High
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Qualitative Evaluation:
This segment rates the best on environmental permitting issues and is currently in the HRTAC plan of finance. This segment has permitting issues that include community and potential Environmental Justice impacts and local project opposition concerns.
Quantitative Evaluation:
In the quantitative analysis, this segment has by far the lowest cost, and its benefits to congestion and to the economy include improved reliability. The segment rates high on cost-effectiveness.
What do you think?
Segment 3
VA 164 Connector
Project Description:
Construct a new four-lane highway from VA-164 west of Cedar Lane across Portsmouth Landfill and Craney Island to a new interchange with I-564 Connector and/or I-664 Connector.
Estimated Cost: $800 Million*
Analysis
Rating
Quantitative
Findings - Benefits relative to cost
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment readiness
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment ease of permitting
Low
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Qualitative Evaluation:
This segment has significant concerns around environmental permitting because of the unique nature of Craney Island, which is created from underwater dredging material and is many years from completion. It has a low readiness score in part because it can only be built in conjunction with other segments. The landfill and Craney Island both present uncertainties for the future timeframe in which the project can be built.
Quantitative Evaluation:
In the quantitative analysis, this segment has lower congestion and economic benefits relative to its cost.
What do you think?
Segment 4
I-564 Connector
Project Description:
Construct a new four-lane highway from the I-564 Intermodal Connector via tunnel and bridges to a new mid-harbor island connection to VA-164 Connector and/or I-664 Connector.
Estimated Cost: $3.2 Billion*
Analysis
Rating
Quantitative
Findings - Benefits relative to cost
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment readiness
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment ease of permitting
Low
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Qualitative Evaluation:
This segment has significant concerns around environmental permitting because of the new bridge-tunnel and the uncertain ability to satisfy Navy security requirements. It has a low readiness score in part because it can only be built in conjunction with other segments.
Quantitative Evaluation:
In the quantitative analysis, this segment has lower congestion and economic benefits relative to its cost.
What do you think?
Segment 5
I-664 Connector
Project Description:
Construct a new four-lane highway on bridges from a new interchange with I-664 over water to a new mid-harbor island connection to I-564 Connector and/or VA-164 Connector.
Estimated Cost: $1.53 Billion*
Analysis
Rating
Quantitative
Findings - Benefits relative to cost
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment readiness
Low
Qualitative
Findings - Relative segment ease of permitting
Low
*Project Costs are planning-level estimates in 2022 dollars.
Qualitative Evaluation:
This segment has significant concerns around environmental permitting because of the proximity to Craney Island and new harbor bridge. It has a low readiness score in part because it can only be built in conjunction with other segments.
Quantitative Evaluation:
In the quantitative analysis, this segment has lower congestion and economic benefits relative to its cost.
What do you think?
Comments
Please share with us any additional input you have on the tiering recommendations. They will be included in the final report for the study.
Comment period is now closed.
Next Steps
The final steps for the RCS are:
- Gather final input from stakeholders and the public.
- Present recommendations to the RCS Steering (Policy) Committee and Working Group in September 2023.
- Present Study results and recommendations to the HRTPO Board in October 2023.
- The HRTPO will consider the RCS recommendations to evaluate the Tier I segments for the 2050 Fiscally Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan and include the Tier II segments in the Regional Transportation Vision Plan.
Continue sharing your thoughts about the future of transportation in Hampton Roads! Connect with the HRTPO for the 2050 LRTP by visiting: https://www.hrtpo.org/page/2050-long_range-transportation-plan/
Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization
723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Dial 757-420-8300
For Virginia TTY Dial 757-390-2578