On October 20, 2016, following a joint presentation from HRTPO Executive Director Robert Crum and HRTAC Director Kevin Page, the HRTPO Board voted to recommend Alternative A Modified to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), as the preferred Alternative from the Draft HRCS SEIS (Hampton Roads Crossing Study Environmental Impact Statement).  Mr. Crum and Mr. Page  reviewed Alternatives A – D of the Draft HRCS SEIS and Mr. Crum stated that Alternatives A and B appeared to have the most potential to be the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA).  He indicated that the selected Preferred Alternative must be able to be constructed, permitted, and funded in the 2040 Fiscally Constrained LRTP.

Mr. Page stated the accelerated HRTF bonding and bifurcated credit structure improves financial feasibility at this time.  He then summarized some financial scenarios associated with various alternatives of the HRCS SEIS.

After extensive discussion, the HRTPO Board unanimously voted to recommend Alternative A-Modified to the CTB as the Preferred Alternative from the HRCS SEIS.  Alternative A-Modified includes I-64 widening from the I-64/I-664 interchange in Hampton to the I-564 interchange in Norfolk, including the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), with the addition of improvements to the I-64/I-264/I-664 interchange at Bowers Hill.  The Alternative A Modified  also includes the opportunity for delivery of HOV-3 comingled transit use for bus rapid transit along the I-64/HRBT corridor.

The HRTPO Board also unanimously voted to allocate up to $7 million toward the cost of further study of the HRCS SEIS components not included in Alternative A-Modified – specifically the I-564/I-664 Connectors (Patriots), I-664 widening from the I-64/I-264/I-664 interchange at Bowers Hill to the I-64/I-664 interchange in Hampton, including the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT), and VA 164/164 Connector, and to include these projects in the Hampton Roads 2040 Regional Transportation Vision Plan.

To view supportive documents and the video of the HRTPO Board meeting where this historic decision was made, click here: