Hampton Roads Transportation

[hoobo]

So I was watching CNN this morning and they some guy from the AA on. He said that AAA listed the "Tidewater" (read: not HR) area of Virignia as being the 2nd worst vacation travel bottleneck. The Oregon coast is the worst. He continued to list the other three and said the main reason for the congestion is that these areas are rural and you have to use 2-lane roads to navigate through them. Well, that's nice. I suppose to someone in NYC, HR is rural. Here's the link:

Worst Vacation Bottlenecks

[vdogg]

He continued to list the other three and said the main reason for the congestion is that these areas are rural and you have to use 2-lane roads to navigate through them.  Well, that's nice.  I suppose to someone in NYC, HR is rural.  Here's the link:

Worst Vacation Bottlenecks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rural? . This guy has obviously never set foot in HR and has no idea what the hell he's talking about. It will be a refreshing day when people actually research an area

before they just start spouting off inaccurate information on national television. It's people like that who are responsible for many of the misconceptions about this region.

[rusthebuss]

Rural?  . This guy has obviously never set foot in HR and has no idea what the hell he's talking about. It will be a refreshing day when people actually research an area

before they just start spouting off inaccurate information on national television. It's people like that who are responsible for many of the misconceptions about this region.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is a typical perception of this area. I never hear anything positive about this area nationally!

[sugoiben]

So I was watching CNN this morning and they some guy from the AA on.  He said that AAA listed the "Tidewater" (read: not HR) area of Virignia as being the 2nd worst vacation travel bottleneck.  The Oregon coast is the worst.  He continued to list the other three and said the main reason for the congestion is that these areas are rural and you have to use 2-lane roads to navigate through them.  Well, that's nice.  I suppose to someone in NYC, HR is rural.  Here's the link:

Worst Vacation Bottlenecks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They also say something in there along the lines of they didn't include any of the popular urban tourist traps like Orlando, because they couldn't distinguish between tourist traffic and regular daily commuters. So I wonder, did they actually mean HR or did they really mean Tidewater? Tidewater as in that stretch of 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg?

[urbanfan]

They also say something in there along the lines of they didn't include any of the popular urban tourist traps like Orlando, because they couldn't distinguish between tourist traffic and regular daily commuters.  So I wonder, did they actually mean HR or did they really mean Tidewater?  Tidewater as in that stretch of 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tidewater refers to south hampton roads, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, portsmouth, Chesapeake....

[sugoiben]

Tidewater refers to south hampton roads, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, portsmouth, Chesapeake....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I always understood Tidewater to encompass all of HR and then some. So like

the seven cities but like also, York, James City, Surry, SouthHampton, and Isle of Wight Counties.

[urbanfan]

I always understood Tidewater to encompass all of HR and then some.  So like

the seven cities but like also, York, James City, Surry, SouthHampton, and Isle of Wight Counties.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, it is only the lower portion below the chesapeake bay. The Tidewater Basin. That is why Hrt on the southside was called Tidewater Transit, I almost forget what they called themselves before the merge up here? Pentran? Hampton Roads more accurately describes all of the cities and counties that make up this area.

[mercuex]

No, it is only the lower portion below the chesapeake bay.  The Tidewater Basin.  That is why Hrt on the southside was called Tidewater Transit, I almost forget what they called themselves before the merge up here? Pentran?  Hampton Roads more accurately describes all of the cities and counties that make up this area.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That may be true but in terms of everyday speech, I've always heard Tidewater as being synonymous with HR. Technicalities may render than inaccurate, but there it is.

[urbanvb]

.. thus some of the reasons for our identity crises..

[rusthebuss]

Those idiots should come down here if they don't think that we are Urban! We are just as urban as Orlando!!!!

[mercuex]

I can't believe he said we have two lane roads to navigate through ... that's complete nonsense.

So ridiculous, in fact, that it makes me wonder if he was in fact referring to the Eastern Shore. Otherwise, someone should send the AAA an email to straighten out this bullcrockery!!

Frankly, I'm offended and I declare WAR on the AAA!

[urbanfan]

I can't believe he said we have two lane roads to navigate through ... that's complete nonsense.

So ridiculous, in fact, that it makes me wonder if he was in fact referring to the Eastern Shore. Otherwise, someone should send the AAA an email to straighten out this bullcrockery!!

Frankly, I'm offended and I declare WAR on the AAA!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Careful now, I can't afford my vacations without them.

[rusthebuss]

I can't believe he said we have two lane roads to navigate through ... that's complete nonsense.

So ridiculous, in fact, that it makes me wonder if he was in fact referring to the Eastern Shore. Otherwise, someone should send the AAA an email to straighten out this bullcrockery!!

Frankly, I'm offended and I declare WAR on the AAA!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you going to send them an email? I don't understand how they came to this poll? How did they get their feedback?

[PeninsulaKiddo]

I always understood Tidewater to encompass all of HR and then some.  So like

the seven cities but like also, York, James City, Surry, SouthHampton, and Isle of Wight Counties.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I heard that but more-so that I thought it was all of Virginia south of the DC metro and east of the Richmond metro?

I can understand the traffic analogy somewhat (interestingly enough, my mom brought this up to me about 2 hours before I read it on here), but we're not some backwoods, southern enclave of 1920's farms and cotton fields! C'mon!

Compared to NYC we're like an Ashville or Roanoke (from our perspective), so I kind of get it but RURAL we are NOT at all. I seriously think we should email him and ask him if he's even been here in the last 5-15 years?

[hoobo]

Tidewater is just like the name sounds: the area affected by tidal waters so you can lump in the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore into the equation. But it's obvious that AAA is refering to I-64 between Richmond and Chesapeake including the tunnels, I-264 and Shore Dr to the Beach, and the Chesapeake Expressway to NC and the Banks. I think I have some idea of how they can discount commuter traffic. Orlando is an all-year resort. Therefore, it is difficult to figure out what's commuter and what's tourist. HR is a summer resort, hence the reason why the traffic gets worse in summer. In non-tourist areas, traffic should lighten in summer. Here in OC/L.A. traffic gets a little better in summer because schools are out. No university kids and no parents driving to school means less traffic. HR on the otherhand experiences increased traffic from tourists.

[okinawatyphoon]

I asked my friend where the plans were for Norfolk Light Rail because very little has been heard as of late. Here's what he said:

"The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has a number of times requested

additional data to support our LRT application. Each time HRT responds

there's another request. We're trying to get approved for final

engineering. After that, approval for construction would be necessary.

It's a protracted drawn-out process."

[rusthebuss]

I asked my friend where the plans were for Norfolk Light Rail because very little has been heard as of late. Here's what he said:

"The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has a number of times requested

additional data to support our LRT application. Each time HRT responds

there's another request. We're trying to get approved for final

engineering. After that, approval for construction would be necessary.

It's a protracted drawn-out process."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've emailed some people from HRT as well and they say they would update me as soon as they get more info. It sounds like the feds are dragging Norfolk through the mud so they will give up on it or that maybe they will add on the starter track or vabeach will join in with norfolk.

Edited July 1, 2005 by rusthebuss

[mercuex]

I've emailed some people from HRT as well and they say they would update me as soon as they get more info. It sounds like the feds are dragging Norfolk through the mud so they will give up on it or that maybe they will add on the starter track or vabeach will join in with norfolk.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hmm.. maybe it wouldn't hurt for me to shoot an email to HRT about the Peninsula project since they absolutely abhor the idea of updating their website. What's with the Peninsula and awful websites anyway ?!

[mercuex]

Okay done. I'll post their reply when it comes.

[rusthebuss]

It migt take them a couple of days to reply.

[mercuex]

It migt take them a couple of days to reply.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

always does. at best.

[Former Resident of HR]

Well today the Pilot has the story about the 2nd worst summer tie up (with which I would agree) and our officials are sitting around picking at the details (as usual). The mayor of VA Beach says it so well when she states,

"We are not hiding the fact that, from time to time, there is congestion to get through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel,

[baobabs727]

Have you guys taken a gander at the transportation proposals/initiatives/funding mechanisms set forth by the two gubernatorial candidates? What a joke! The bottom line truth is that until we start electing politicians who are willing to make the hard choices on transportation, our future economic security will be in great peril. There appears to be no light at the end of this tunnel! (Heck, there'll be no tunnel period! LOL)

[mercuex]

The best joke on the reader boards is how there is a sign that flashes "HRBT 40-50 MIN DELAY, NO WAITING AT MMBT".  Well by the time that you get to the MMBT 50 minutes later there usually IS delay which you can be sure is not reflected in the reader boards.... 

And why is it that the info on 511, the reader boards or that awful radio station is not updated more frequently?  Doesn't someone get paid (and probably a lot of $$ and benefits) to sit and watch all those traffic cameras?  How difficult it is for them to look at the screen and say "gee there is a backup at exit 275" and then hit a button that updates that instantly?  Or sends out messages to the reader boards? I send e-mails all over the country and even worldwide on a daily basis that take seconds to get to their destination.  The radio and traffic sites update like every 20 minutes.  What gives?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HAHAHA OH MAN

That is like my commute to and from Norfolk EVERY DAY. Welcome to my world. LoL...

Its a scandal that something isn't done. I say Virginia legalize casinos and prostitution and get the revenues that way. Not only will our economy explode with growth... let's just say our night life may improve a tad haha

At least maybe the strippers will be better looking. Not that I'd ever go to one of those morally vacuous institutions of transgression! cough ...

[vdogg]

The best joke on the reader boards is how there is a sign that flashes "HRBT 40-50 MIN DELAY, NO WAITING AT MMBT".  Well by the time that you get to the MMBT 50 minutes later there usually IS delay which you can be sure is not reflected in the reader boards.... 

And why is it that the info on 511, the reader boards or that awful radio station is not updated more frequently?  Doesn't someone get paid (and probably a lot of $$ and benefits) to sit and watch all those traffic cameras?  How difficult it is for them to look at the screen and say "gee there is a backup at exit 275" and then hit a button that updates that instantly?  Or sends out messages to the reader boards? I send e-mails all over the country and even worldwide on a daily basis that take seconds to get to their destination.  The radio and traffic sites update like every 20 minutes.  What gives?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wasn't gonna touch this one but as someone who knows I think i need to set a few things straight. First and foremost the absolute #1 problem that our region faces is bad drivers. I'm sorry, but it's true. You want to improve traffic in this area then people need to learn how to drive better. Most accidents are avoidable and are a result of people being in a hurry and not paying attention. This is the case everywhere but for some reason in this region the problem is exceptionally bad. The #1 reason for backups at the HRBT is overheight trucks. We usually get anywhere from a couple a day and when we do all traffic must be stopped and the truck diverted before they damage the tunnel. This tunnel was built in the 60's and therefore does not accomodate many of the trucks that exist today. As far as the controllers, I know each and everyone of them personally and they work very hard and do not get paid as much as you may think. There are dozens of incidents a day and each incident requires a fairly complex set of procedures to handle. Often times they will divert traffic to MMBT and then a few minutes later there is an incident there and that is shut down. It then becomes an exercise of which tunnel has the smallest delay and if MMBT has less of a delay than HRBT than they will still funnel traffic that way to take some of the pressure off 64. We have doomed ourselves to face this problem day in and day out because this region only has 2 main escape routes. Gridlock is inevitable. The third crossing if built will help out with some of this but when you live in a region that requires so many bridges and tunnels to navigate i think transportation is always gonna be somewhat of an issue.