By: Sam Belfield
Senior Transportation Engineer

The HRTPO continues to receive input from military commuters since releasing a public transportation survey on November 8, 2011.  As of January 26, 2012, approximately 9,180 survey responses have been received.

The HRTPO is collecting information about the commuting experience of military personnel (active-duty, civilians, contractors, reservists and others) traveling to/from the region’s military bases.  The survey was developed by the HRTPO, in concert with the Commands from the region’s military installations and various transportation stakeholders. It is designed to identify and determine the challenges local military personnel and military-related commuters routinely face during their daily commutes.

The survey will remain open to local military commuters until February 20, 2012.  The survey results will be summarized and reported to the HRTPO board, local transit agencies, local governments, VDOT, and military officials in an effort to improve military travel in our region.

By Keith Nichols
Senior Transportation Engineer

The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University (TTI) recently released the 2011 Congested Corridors Report, which documents the most congested freeway corridors throughout the country.  The data used in the report was collected in 2010 by Inrix from GPS-enabled vehicles traveling throughout the United States, including taxis, shuttles, trucks, and delivery vans.

Based on the criteria that these most congested corridors must be congested for 3 or more miles at least 4 hours each week, a total of 328 directional freeway corridors across the nation made their list.  In Hampton Roads, two corridors made TTI's most congested corridors list:  The Eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the Westbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
 
TTI not only looked at those corridors that have the most congestion but also those corridors that are the most unreliable, meaning that the congestion levels vary significantly from day to day.  This is based on a measure called the Buffer Index, which takes into account the extra amount of time a person must build into their schedule to nearly guarantee that they'll make it to their destination on time.  TTI also calculated congestion levels based on the Travel Time Index, which compares how long trips take during the most congested periods of the day versus uncongested conditions.

The Eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel ranked as one of the most unreliable congested facilities in the nation, with the fifth highest Buffer Index in the country according to the report.  The Travel Time Index for the Eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was also high at 1.89, which means that the average trip taken at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel during rush hour takes 89% longer than the same trip takes during uncongested times of the day.  This Travel Time Index ranked 98th highest in the country.

In the Westbound direction, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was more congested than the Eastbound direction, but was also more reliable.  The Westbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel had the 54th highest Buffer Index in the country in 2010, but was the 80th most congested corridor in the country with a Travel Time Index of 1.96.

More information on the 2011 Congested Corridors Report is available on TTI's website at http://mobility.tamu.edu/corridors.

By Jessica M. Banks
Senior Transportation Analyst

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has released a report, entitled Infrastructure 2011: A Strategic Priority.  This is the fifth in a series of annual reports co-produced by ULI and Ernst & Young that assesses the state of infrastructure in the United States and around the world.  Based on extensive interviews with industry experts and research, this report surveys global infrastructure trends and activities in 2011 and then examines in depth current U.S. infrastructure policy and the outlook for meeting the nation’s significant repair and rebuilding challenges. The report reviews national infrastructure strategies in a variety of countries, noting that most have put in place serious efforts to identify and address infrastructure deficiencies and chart a course toward lower energy and oil consumption. It contrasts these approaches with those in the United States, which at a national level still lacks a coherent infrastructure strategy and struggles to give infrastructure the priority it deserves.

For more information, please click here.

Kendall Miller
Public Involvement and Community Outreach Administrator

The Philadelphia-based public space advocacy group Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) has published a report that examines the environmental and energy-consumption issues raised by digital signage. Such issues include higher electrical consumption, increased light pollution, and potential recyclability issues. The report includes an overview of the basics of digital signage technology and energy consumption, information on current regulation of digital signs by Philadelphia and other municipalities, and zoning policy recommendations. For more information, link to Illuminating the Issues: Digital Signage and Philadelphia’s Green Future.

Kendall Miller
Public Involvement and Community Outreach Administrator

The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Inova Health System to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in the provision of medical services. The agreement, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, resolves a complaint that Inova failed to provide sign language interpreters to an expectant mother and others who are deaf and need interpreters to communicate effectively with health care providers.

The department’s lawsuit, filed yesterday with a consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleged that Inova Health System violated the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act by failing to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreter services, to deaf individuals at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Because of the hospital’s failure to provide sign language interpreter services, deaf individuals were denied the benefit of effective communication with hospital staff, the opportunity to effectively participate in medical treatment decisions, and the full benefit of health care services provided by Inova Fairfax Hospital, according to the complaint.

“The ADA protects the right of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to be able to access medical services, and this settlement is the latest example of the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the ADA,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This settlement also demonstrates Inova Health System’s commitment to provide effective communication to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
 
“This settlement shows that Inova and the government share the same goal – making sure that deaf and hard of hearing patients can communicate with their doctors, especially at critical moments in their medical care,” said Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The consent decree, which must be approved by the district court, requires Inova Health System to pay $95,000 to aggrieved individuals and a $25,000 civil penalty; provide training to hospital staff on the requirements of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act; and adopt specific policies and procedures to ensure that auxiliary aids and services are promptly provided to patients or companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. Inova Health System has also separately agreed to pay a total of $25,000 to two other aggrieved individuals.

The ADA and Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities by hospitals. Among other things, the ADA requires doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to provide equal access to patients and companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. When medical services involve important, lengthy or complex oral communications with patients or companions, hospitals are generally required to provide qualified sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids, free of charge, to individuals who are deaf, are hard of hearing or have speech disabilities. The appropriate auxiliary aid to be provided depends on a variety of factors, including the nature, length and importance of the communication; the communication skills and knowledge of the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and the individual’s stated need for a particular type of auxiliary aid.

Those interested in finding out more about this settlement or hospitals’ effective communication obligations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov . ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov .

By Mike Kimbrel
Principal Transportation Engineer

1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 9:46 a.m. (Following ICG Meeting)

2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Oral comments - Limit 3 minutes per individual)
There were no speakers.

3. SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENTS (Written comments included in agenda packet)
The Chair recognized the submitted public comments.

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Gibson requested that a new agenda item be added after Item 14 to discuss amending the 2034 LRTP list of projects to change the Route 460 project from a study to a construction project. Mr. Hicks requested that a new agenda item be added after Item 11 to address a James City County TIP Amendment request. Mr. Gibson moved approval of the requested changes to the agenda. Mr. Abt seconded the motion and the agenda was approved with the
requested changes.

5. MINUTES
The minutes were approved with no changes.

6. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Mr. Schnaufer noted that the Nominating Committee had recommended Mr. Sorey for TTAC Chair and Mr. King for TTAC Vice-Chair. He then moved approval of the recommended officers. Mr. Drumwright seconded the motion and it was approved.

7. CMAQ/RSTP RECONCILIATION WORK: STATUS REPORT
Mr. Kimbrel briefed the TTAC on the status of reallocating CMAQ and RSTP funds found to be available from Categories A and C, noting that the total available funds had been reduced as a result of a determination by York County, James City County, and Williamsburg that two projects listed as Districtwide projects were underway projects as opposed to completed projects. This item was for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on this item.

8. FY 2009-2012 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT: CHESAPEAKE
Mr. Walton briefed the TTAC on the City’s request to reallocate RSTP and CMAQ funds, noting that some funds were being returned to the CMAQ Reserve. Mr. Walton moved approval of the TIP Amendment. Mr. Hicks seconded the motion and it was approved.

9. FY 2009-2012 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT: NEWPORT NEWS
Mr. Slaughter briefed the TTAC on the City’s request to reallocate CMAQ funds and moved approval of the TIP Amendment. Mr. Lewis seconded the motion and it was approved.

10. FY 2009-2012 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT: NORFOLK
Mr. Brown briefed the TTAC on the City’s request to reallocate CMAQ funds and moved approval of the TIP Amendment. Mr. Walton seconded the motion and it was approved.

11. FY 2009-2012 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT: JAMES CITY COUNTY
Mr. Hicks briefed the TTAC on the County’s request to add the Skiffes Creek Connector to the FY 2009-2012 TIP as a Preliminary Engineering and Right of Way Only project and to transfer funds to the new project from the Route 60 Relocated project. Mr. Hicks moved approval of the TIP Amendment. Mr. Cross seconded the motion and it was approved.

New Item FY 2009-2012 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT: JAMES CITY COUNTY
Mr. Hicks briefed the TTAC on the County’s request to reallocate CMAQ and RSTP funds and moved approval of the TIP Amendment. Mr. Walton seconded the motion and it was approved.

12. REVIEW OF THE FY 2012-2017 SIX-YEAR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROCESS: VDOT
Mr. Jack briefed the TTAC on the roles and responsibilities of the various entities involved in the development of the SYIP. This item was for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on this item.

13. I-64 PENINSULA STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT: VDOT
Mr. Nies briefed the TTAC on the purpose of the study, as well as the timeline and current status. This item was for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on this item.

14. 2034 LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN: STATUS REPORT
Ms. Ravanbakht noted that the Recommended List of Projects and Studies that was approved by the HRTPO Board during its March 2011 meeting was enclosed. She further noted that the document had been widely distributed, and that recipients included the Governor, Secretary of Transportation, and members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Ms. Stith then briefed the TTAC on the status of the 2034 LRTP development, noting the tasks completed to date as well as the schedule of remaining tasks to be completed by January 2012. This item was for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on this item.

New Item AMENDING THE RECOMMENDED LIST OF PROJECTS AND STUDIES FOR THE 2034 LRTP TO SHOW THE ROUTE 460 PROJECT AS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Mr. Gibson noted that the current Recommended List of Projects and Studies for the 2034 LRTP includes the Route 460 project as a study, but that the PPTA process makes the construction of the Route 460 project financially-constrained. As such, Mr. Gibson moved that the Recommended List of Projects and Studies for the 2034 LRTP be amended to show the project as a construction project. Mr. Ponticello seconded the motion and it was approved.

15. INRIX NATIONAL TRAFFIC SCORECARD
Mr. Nichols briefed the TTAC on the INRIX National Traffic Scorecard 2010 Annual Report,which details the status of congestion in the largest 100 metropolitan areas across the country. The congestion information is based on travel speed information collected from over 4 million GPS-equipped vehicles, as well as consumer cellular GPS-based devices. This item was for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on this item.

16. CORRESPONDENCE OF INTEREST
There were no items this month.

17. FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The Chair noted the item on the VDOT public hearing on the draft Six-Year Improvement Program that is scheduled for April 27, 2011 at the Regional Building, 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia. The items listed under FYI were for informational purposes. The TTAC took no action on the items listed under FYI.

18. OLD/NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Hicks stated that there was a recent public meeting in James City County on the Mooretown Road Corridor Extension, noting that over 70 people attended the meeting. He expressed special appreciation to Ms. Ravanbakht for her attendance and presentation during the public meeting. The TTAC took no action on this item.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:04 a.m.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 4-8

RICHMOND — Drivers across Virginia are likely to see a lot more highway work zones in the coming months and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants drivers to recognize how important their actions are to keep those work areas safe.

VDOT is advancing hundreds of new construction, maintenance and operations projects, and as those projects move to construction the resulting work zones will affect drivers across the state. Motorists will encounter those projects in every part of the state and on all parts of the highway system, from busy urban interstates to local secondary roads in more rural areas.
 
April 4 through April 8 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. VDOT will join other state and federal transportation agencies as well as the highway contracting community to educate motorists about the important role they play in keeping themselves and highway workers safe while driving through highway work zones.

This year’s theme – “Safer driving – Safer work zones –  For everyone” – emphasizes the challenges that work zones have for the driving public. “Motorists may not be aware that the work being done in highway work zones carries risks for them as well as for the workers,” said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley. “Four out of five people killed in work zone crashes are motorists.”

In 2009, the latest year that statistics are available, there were seven fatalities in Virginia that involved work zone crashes. Two of those crashes involved two fatalities each. In 2009 there were 3,249 work zone crashes that resulted in 1,721 injuries in addition to those killed. Looking at the national picture, in 2008 fatal work zone crashes accounted for two percent of those killed in highway crashes. In that year there were 720 people killed nationwide and another 40,000 people injured.

“We will do our part to ensure that the traveling public is as safe as possible while using Virginia’s highways,” Commissioner Whirley continued. “We need drivers to do their part to help us keep them safe. That includes recognizing that they’re approaching a highway work area and reacting appropriately by paying full attention to the signs and traffic flow, slowing their speed and minimizing distractions.”

In recognition of Work Zone Awareness Week VDOT will hold a vigil to honor its employees who have lost their lives in work zone crashes. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at the VDOT Workers Memorial, which is located on Interstate 64 on Afton Mountain (milepost 102 eastbound) in Albemarle County. The ceremony is a way for VDOT to honor the memory of those workers who have lost their lives while working on Virginia’s highways. The public is invited to attend the vigil.

VDOT offers the following tips for motorists to increase safety as they navigate highway work zones:

• Follow the signs. Orange signs with black lettering should alert you on the approach to a work zone. Signs and flaggers will direct you through the work zone. Expect changes in traffic patterns as the project progresses.
• Turn on your headlights. Workers and other motorists must see you.
• Don't tailgate. Unexpected stops frequently occur in work zones.
• Don't speed. Note the speed limits in and around the work zone. Enhanced fines of up to $500 may be levied for speeding in a work zone.
• Keep up with traffic flow. Dedicate your full attention to the road and those traveling around you.
• Don't change lanes in the work zone. The time saved just isn't worth it.
• Minimize distractions. Avoid changing radio stations and using mobile phones in the work zone.
• Stay alert, expect the unexpected. Keep an eye out for workers and their equipment.
• Be patient. Remember, the construction or maintenance crewmembers are working to improve the highway, and the safety and comfort of your future travels.
• Call 511. Receive up-to-the-minute traffic and weather information from any telephone in Virginia. Before you travel, log on to www.511Virginia.org for road and traffic conditions, weather forecasts and live traffic cameras on many major highways.

More information about Work Zone Awareness Week is available on VDOT’s web site:
http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/prog-wzsa-default.asp

Find out about the VDOT Workers Memorial, including information about some of those individuals who are memorialized on the monument:
http://www.virginiadot.org/about/is-worker-memorial.asp

Work Zone Awareness Week video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/vdotweb

Camelia Ravanbakht
Deputy Executive Director

RICHMOND—The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is accepting School Travel Plans for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program’s 2011 grant cycle from localities interested in making bicycling and walking to school safer and more appealing to students.    

The Safe Routes to School program, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, seeks to improve walking and bicycling opportunities for children in grades K-8 through engineering, encouragement, education and enforcement activities. Funding is available for infrastructure improvement projects such as traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, traffic control devices and sidewalk improvements. At this time, VDOT is not accepting applications for non-infrastructure improvements, but plans to continue that portion of the grant program in the future. 

The deadline for localities to submit a final version of their School Travel Plans is April 29, 2011. Applicants interested in receiving comments and suggestions on their travel plans prior to final submission must send them to VDOT by March 25, 2011, for review. The final infrastructure grant application deadline is June 3, 2011, for those applicants that receive notice from the VDOT SRTS coordinator that their travel plan has been approved. Deadline for Travel Plan Submission is April 29, 2011.

Program guidelines and other resources are available on the VDOT website at  www.virginiadot.org/saferoutes.  School travel plans can be sent to Robert Williams, VDOT Safe Routes to School coordinator, at RobertJ.Williams@VDOT.Virginia.Gov.