HRTPO has recently released the latest version of the State of Transportation in Hampton Roads report.  The State of Transportation report details the current status and recent trends of all facets of the transportation system in Hampton Roads, including air, rail, water, and highways.  Many aspects of the highway system are highlighted, including roadway usage, pavement condition, bridge conditions, congestion levels, commuting characteristics, roadway safety, transit usage, and active transportation (such as biking and walking). 

There are a number of notable trends highlighted in the State of Transportation in Hampton Roads 2016 report, including:

• Regional roadway travel grew last year by the highest amount in over a decade -  Daily roadway travel in Hampton Roads increased by 2.0% at regional continuous count stations between 2014 and 2015.  This is the largest year-to-year increase in regional roadway travel since 2004, and follows decreases in roadway travel in six out of the last eight years.    
• The downward trend in regional air travel has slowed – After decreasing each year since 2007, the number of passengers using Hampton Roads airports decreased slightly from 2014 to 2015, with ridership levels actually increasing by 2% at  Norfolk International.
• Intercity rail travel has increased - Between 2006 and 2015, Amtrak ridership at stations in Hampton Roads increased 72%.
• The Port of Virginia reached another record - The Port handled 20 million tons of general cargo in 2015, which is a record for the Port. This is 20% higher than the levels handled in 2006 and 34% higher than the amount of freight handled by the Port of Virginia during the peak of the recession in 2009.
• The number of structurally deficient bridges in the region has decreased –  There are 73 bridges in Hampton Roads that are classified as structurally deficient as of 2016, down from 81 bridges in 2015.  These 73 bridges comprise 6% of the bridges in the region.
• Pavement condition in Hamapton Roads has greatly improved – Only 11% of state-maintained Interstate and

Primary roadways in Hampton Roads had a deficient pavement condition in 2015, down from 34% as recently as 2010.

The State of Transportation report also includes comparisons between Hampton Roads and other metropolitan areas throughout the United States in order to examine how various aspects of the regional transportation system are performing.  HRTPO staff used the 35 other metropolitan areas throughout the country with populations between one and three million people to make these comparisons.

Hampton Roads ranks particularly high in:

• Driving Alone to Work - According to the Census Bureau, Hampton Roads has the 10^th highest percentage of commuters driving alone to work among the 36 metropolitan areas.
• Commuting across jurisdictional lines - According to the Census Bureau, Hampton Roads has the 4^th highest percentage of commuters that work in a jurisdiction that is different than the one that they reside in among the 36 areas, and 13^th highest percentage in the country among all areas. 
• Air quality - According to the EPA, Hampton Roads had the 3^rd fewest bad ozone days among the 36 metropolitan areas.

Aspects where Hampton Roads ranks particularly low include:

• Per Capita Roadway Travel - At 22.7 miles per person per day, per capita roadway travel is lower in Hampton Roads than in most other areas, ranking 6^th lowest of the 36 metropolitan areas.
• Transit funding - Hampton Roads has the 10^th lowest funding level of public transportation services per capita among the 36 metropolitan areas. 

The State of Transportation in Hampton Roads 2016 draft report is available for public review and comment through August 3^rd, 2016.  You may access the draft report by clicking on the following link:

Draft State of Transportation in Hampton Roads 2016 Report

All interested parties are encouraged to review the draft report and send comments to Keith Nichols at knichols@hrtpo.org.