Need and Rationale

1
Port Accessibility and Mobility MIN
The Port Accessibility and Mobility MIN supports
efforts to modify tunnels along the Coalfields
route, to provide access to double-stacked
trains, and to improve access to the Ports of
Virginia.

• Need and Rationale

Implementation Plan

• Currently, West Virginia rail does not
  accommodate the height constraints of
  double-stacking. Double stacking is placing two
  rail cargo containers on top of each other.
  Double-stacking and usage of the West Virginia
  rail would increase the competitiveness of
  Virginia ports with other U.S. ports. Also
• Clearing the Coalfield Route has significant
  impacts to the national economy
• The coalfield route is a true multi-state,
  intermodal project
• The federal government (Congress) would prefer to
  fund projects which involve Multi-State Corridors

• Complete construction of the Craney Island Marine
  Terminal.
• Construct a Craney Island Connector from the new
  Third Crossing to Interstate 164.
• Improve port connections for rail corridors
  serving the ports.
• Maintain the operational efficiency of the James
  River channel between Richmond and Hampton Roads
  to the ports along the James River.
• Improve intermodal access to marine terminals by
  developing the Commonwealth Railroad branch line.
  Construct rail intermodal facilities at Suffolk.

Sponsors
Virginia Port Authority (VPA)
2
Coalfields Access MIN
The Coalfield Access MIN facilitates construction
of the Coalfields Expressway, implement
intelligent transportation systems throughout the
corridor, and build a new aviation community
airport.

• Need and Rationale

Implementation Plan

• Complete construction of the Coalfields
  Expressway, as a limited access facility, from
  Wise County to West Virginia.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Build a new general aviation community airport in
  Grundy.

TBD

Sponsors
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
3
Emergency Transportation MIN
The Emergency Transportation MIN improves the
Commonwealths preparedness and response and
recovery capability for natural disasters and
emergencies of all kinds, including terrorist
attacks.

• Need and Rationale

Implementation Plan
The need for ensuring the operation and integrity
of Americas surface transportation system is
evident following the events of September 11,
2001. Good transportation system operation is key
to ensuring safe, continuous movement of people
and goods during a national and state security
event. The objective of this network is to
ensure that operational transportation policies,
protocols, procedures, routes, practices, and
improvements are put into place within the
Commonwealth of Virginia that will enable people
and goods to move safely and effectively during
threatening situations while still enabling
emergency access to the scene(s), and will
facilitate the re-establishment of transportation
following an emergency.

• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including emergency notification, Virginia
  Operational Information System (VOIS), and
  aviation navigational aid systems) throughout the
  state, as appropriate.
• Upgrade traffic surveillance and congestion
  management systems on interstate highways and
  expressways.
• Implement capacity and safety improvements, as
  appropriate, statewide (specifically, Route 13
  Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Route 460,
  Interstate 95, and Interstate 64).
• Improve multimodal access to and from major
  activity centers and transportation facilities.
• Upgrade security at the Ports of Virginia.
• Facilitate coordination among military, public,
  private, and other emergency responders.
• Consider to upgrade shared communication
  resources (including fiber) along routes in all
  systems for communications interoperability and
  video data

Sponsors
Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and Virginia
Transportation Research Council (VTRC) With VDOT,
DOAV, DMV, VDEM, Local Emergency Operations
Centers other responders such as fire/rescue,
National Guard, Virginia State Police
4
Virginia Bicycle and Pedestrian System MIN
The Virginia Bicycle and Pedestrian System MIN is
the incorporation of four urban bicycle studies
and plans that support the long-term goal of
creating an integrated and complete network of
bicycle routes and paths throughout Virginia.

• Implementation Plan
• Construct the Virginia Capital Trail from
  Richmond to Williamsburg to support
  transportation and economic development along the
  Route 5 corridor.
• Repair and replace signage along Interstate
  Bicycle Routes 1 and 76 and evaluate potential
  routing changes.
• Expand bicycle and pedestrian networks and
  provide missing connections within existing
  networks.
• Provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
  to connect bicycling and walking trip generators.
• Provide bicycle and pedestrian access to public
  transportation services and facilities.
• Construct bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
  to traverse natural or man-made barriers,
  including access-controlled barriers.
• Support Safe Routes to School programs through
  provision of bicycle and pedestrian
  accommodations.
• Install appropriate signage to facilitate the
  safe use of bicycle and pedestrian
  accommodations.
• Provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
  along existing or planned tourism corridors.
• Provide safety and connectivity for trails that
  intersect with the highway system, such as the
  Appalachian Trail.
• Promote development of long distance bicycling
  and walking routes, such as the East Coast
  Greenway.

• Need and Rationale
• Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
• With increasingly challenging requirements for
  better air quality in the region and traffic
  delays growing worse each year, there is a great
  deal of interest in new approaches to land use
  and transportation in Northern Virginia.
• Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
• The purpose of this project is to develop a
  regional bicycle and pedestrian transportation
  plan for the Richmond area.
• Virginia Capital Trails
• The trail will be an alternate transportation
  facility for area residents as it connects
  education centers, neighborhoods, and local
  recreation facilities, providing separation
  between motorized and non-motorized traffic and
  increased safety for all users within the Route 5
  and Greensprings Road corridors.
• East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
• It will contribute to increasing transportation
  options, improving air quality, reducing roadway
  congestion, encouraging ecotourism and adventure
  travel, local economic development, improving
  mental and physical health via recreation and
  exercise, helping to connect people and
  communities, and helping to create new public
  space.

Northern Virginia Proposed Network
Virginia Capital Trail
Sponsors Virginia Department of
Transportation with The East Coast
Greenway
5
Interstate 73/Franklin County Airport Access MIN
The Interstate 73/Franklin County Airport Access
MIN connects the interstate with other important
elements along the corridor. Route 73 is a new
interstate currently being built in Henry,
Franklin, and Roanoke County.

• Implementation Plan
• Complete construction of Interstate 73 from North
  Carolina to Interstate 581 in Roanoke.
• Construct a new general aviation regional airport
  in Franklin County.
• Provide direct access to the new Franklin County
  Airport from new Interstate 73.
• Facilitate access to the Roanoke Airport.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.

• Need and Rationale
• Safety
• Accidents on Route 220 have resulted in
  significant
• numbers of deaths and injuries. Several factors
• contribute to the accident rate
• high percentage of truck traffic
• steep road grades
• over-sized trucks
• crossovers with no turn lanes or a turn lane in
  only one direction
• Economic Potential
• A new interstate should be good for business and
• industry in the Roanoke Valley and Franklin and
• Henry counties. Large numbers of trucks travel on
  
• Route 220. Local manufacturers have business
• connections with the cities of Greensboro,
  Winston-
• Salem and High Point in North Carolina. A better
• road between the Roanoke Valley and the Piedmont
• Triad will enhance economic growth in the
  Franklin

Sponsors Department of Aviation
6
Route 29 MIN
The Route 29 MIN connects central North Carolina
with Northern Virginia and is an important travel
route for businesses and travelers. Route 29 goes
through the cities of Danville, Chatham, Gretna,
Hurt-Altavista, Lynchburg, Madison Heights,
Amherst, Lovingston, Charlottesville, Madison,
Brightwood, Culpeper, Brandy Station, Remington,
and Warrenton.

• Implementation Plan
• Implement safety, capacity, and access management
  improvements along Route 29 from Danville to
  Interstate 66.
• Improve passenger rail facilities and services
  from Lynchburg to Manassas.
• Improve freight rail facilities and services from
  North Carolina to Manassas.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Improve ground transportation access to general
  aviation airports.

• Need and Rationale
• Development along US-29 for 4 miles north of
  there over the last 10 years has transformed that
  section of US-29 from a high-speed highway into a
  lower speed urban arterial with traffic lights
  and with heavy adjacent strip business
  development, and traffic congestion in peak
  periods can sometimes cause 20 to 30 minute
  travel times to travel those 4 miles. The new
  bypass is intended to address those traffic
  problems. (http//www.roadstothefuture.com/US29_Ch
  arlottesville_Bypass.html)
• There is a need to improve the economic
  development in Lynchburg and other cities south
  of Charlottesville.

Proposed Charlottesville Western Bypass

Route 29 From Charlottesville to Danville
Sponsors Virginia Department of Transportation
7
Richmond to Hampton Roads Passenger Mobility MIN
The Richmond to Hampton Roads Passenger Mobility
MIN is the incorporation of numerous improvements
and additions to the transportation system
between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

• Implementation Plan
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  Route 460 from Richmond to Hampton Roads.
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  Interstate 64 from Richmond to Hampton Roads.
• Extend High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on Interstate
  64 to Route 199 in York.
• Provide Park and Ride Lots to facilitate
  ridesharing and transit throughout the corridor.
• Support development of the Richmond to Hampton
  Roads Passenger Rail Tier 1 Environmental Impact
  Statement recommendations for the Interstate 64
  and Route 460 corridors.
• Support improvements for the Jamestown 2007
  celebration.
• Improve ground transportation access to
  commercial and general aviation airports,
  specifically, the Richmond, Newport News, and
  Hampton Roads Airports.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Improve access to recreational and tourism
  resources.

• Need and Rationale
• The average daily volume of traffic on I-64
  between the I-64/I-95/I-195 junction and Route 33
  (Staples Mill Road) is 151,000 vehicles per day
  (based on 2001 data). This volume is expected to
  increase to 211,400 vehicles per day by the
  design year 2025.
• The expansion and improvement of Route 64 aims to
  provide a link between the Hampton Roads area and
  Richmond, Virginia. Route 64 is the major artery
  between these two locations with an
  ever-increasing demand upon it. Route 64 will
  provide the necessary transportation
  infrastructure to support the volume of projected
  traffic between these locations.
• A varied network of surface transportation
  options exists in the James River Corridor,
  between Richmond and Hampton Roads. However,
  public transportation is limited. Amtrak
  currently operates conventional rail service
  providing two round trips per day between
  Richmond and Newport News, with Thruway bus
  service between the Newport News station, Norfolk
  and Virginia Beach. These trains also serve
  Williamsburg as an intermediate stop between
  Richmond and Newport News. In 1999, a total of
  about 110,000 passengers were served at Newport
  News (including those using the connecting bus
  service) and about 45,000 passengers were served
  at Williamsburg.

Sponsors Virginia Department of
Transportation Virginia Department of Rail and
Public Transportation (DRPT)
8
Hampton Roads Multimodal Access MIN
The Hampton Roads Multimodal Access MIN will
provide the Hampton Roads District with almost
200 million in road improvement funds during the
next fiscal year and more than 1.7 billion over
the next six years.

• Need and Rationale
• Route 199 - Segment I
• In anticipation of the 400th anniversary
  commemoration of the settling of Jamestown in
  2007, transportation improvements are needed to
  the Route 199 and Route 31. In December 2002,
  VDOT signed a comprehensive agreement with
  Jamestown 2007 Corridor Constructors, LLC using
  the provisions of the Public Private
  Transportation Act of 1995 to complete these
  improvements.
• Coliseum Central Highway
• The Coliseum Central Highway Improvement Project
  will improve access, safety and traffic flow
  along 2.51 miles of I-64 between the I-664 split
  and Hampton Roads Center Parkway including the
  Mercury Boulevard interchange and the Magruder
  Boulevard exit.
• I-64 Widening
• When construction of this segment is completed
  the HOV Lanes will be opened to traffic from
  Jefferson Avenue (Exit 255) to I-664 (264).

Implementation Plan

• Construct a Third Crossing from the
  intersection of Interstate 64 and Interstate 564
  in Norfolk to the intersection of Interstate 64
  and Interstate 664 in Hampton.
• Improve Interstate 664 from Bowers Hill to
  Interstate 64 in Hampton.
• Construct High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes on
  Interstate 64 and Interstate 664.
• Provide a third tube for an alternate mode, to be
  determined.
• Support development of the Richmond to Hampton
  Roads Passenger Rail Tier 1 Environmental Impact
  Statement recommendations for the Interstate 64
  and Route 460 corridors.
• Complete a direct connection to the Chesapeake
  Airport.
• Enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve
  access to the Hampton Roads Airport along Route
  58/460.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Improve ground transportation access to general
  aviation airports throughout the corridor.
• Improve access to recreational and tourism
  resources throughout the corridor.

Sponsors

• Virginia Department of Transportation
• Virginia Department of Rail and
• Public Transportation (DRPT)

9
Interstate 95 Passenger and Goods Movement MIN
The Interstate 95 Passenger and Goods Movement
MIN is the incorporation of numerous improvements
and additions to the transportation system
between Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC, with
Richmond, VA in the middle.

• Implementation Plan
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  the Interstate 95 corridor from North Carolina to
  Washington DC.
• Extend High Occupancy Vehicle lanes along
  Interstate 95 Fredericksburg to Dumfries.
• Provide Park and Ride Lots to facilitate
  ridesharing and transit throughout the corridor.
• Facilitate Southeast High Speed Passenger Rail
  service from North Carolina (Charlotte) to
  Washington DC.
• Upgrade rail lines in the entire corridor to a
  three-track system to improve freight rail
  movement where CSX, Amtrak, and the Virginia
  Railway Express all share the same rails, and to
  permit operation of higher speed (90 mph)
  passenger trains.
• Increase freight rail capacity and speed by
  improving tracks, signals, sidings, bridges,
  clearances, curves, switches, and grade
  crossings.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Improve ground transportation access to general
  aviation airports.
• Improve access to recreational and tourism
  resources.

• Need and Rationale
• I-95 HOV Feasibility Study
• With increasing challenges due to traffic volume
  and subsequent delays each year, this study shows
  the need and feasibility of using additional HOV
  lanes along I-95 in Virginia.

Interstate 95 through Virginia
Sponsors Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation Virginia Department of
Transportation
10
Interstate 81 Passenger and Goods Movement MIN
The Interstate 81 Passenger and Goods Movement
MIN is the incorporation of numerous improvements
and additions to the transportation system
between West Virginia and Bristol, Virginia,
especially reducing and separating freight
traffic from other traffic.

• Implementation Plan
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  the Interstate 81 corridor from West Virginia to
  Bristol.
• Upgrade and expand Interstate 81 rest area
  capacity for trucks.
• Increase freight rail capacity and speed by
  improving tracks, signals, sidings, bridges,
  clearances, curves, switches, and grade
  crossings.
• Construct a new general aviation community
  airport in Lexington/Rockbridge County.
• Improve safety and capacity at Interstate 81
  connections serving current and future inland
  ports (e.g., Front Royal).
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.
• Improve ground transportation access to general
  aviation airports.
• Improve access to recreational and tourism
  resources.

• Need and Rationale
• I-81 Corridor Improvement Study
• In accordance with NEPA, in the fall of 2003
  FHWA and VDOT launched an I-81 Corridor
  Improvement Study. The study will objectively
  identify deficiencies along the interstate as
  well as opportunities for improvements throughout
  the corridor in Virginia. This study will lead to
  the completion of an Environmental Impact
  Statement (EIS). The EIS must consider
  reasonable improvement concepts for the heavily
  traveled I-81 corridor. Some of these concepts
  may include opportunities for separation of
  trucks and passenger vehicles, as well as rail
  improvements. In addition, the study will
  evaluate tolling as a funding source
  (http//virginiadot.org/projects/constSTAN-I-81-en
  vironment.asp)

Sponsors Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation Virginia Department of
Transportation
Interstate 81 through Virginia
11
Northern Virginia Connections MIN
The Northern Virginia Connections MIN aims to
provide ground transportation connections to and
from Stafford, Manassas, Leesburg, National, and
Dulles airports.

• Implementation Plan
• Provide Park and Ride lots to facilitate
  ridesharing and transit, as appropriate.
• Provide shuttle service from the Manassas Airport
  terminal building to the Virginia Railway Express
  station located on airport property.
• Replace and expand equipment to meet increased
  demand on the Virginia Railway Express.
• Address aging equipment and facilities through
  the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
  Authority Capital Replacement Program.
• Extend metro rail service from Falls Church
  through Tysons Corners to Dulles Airport.
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  Route 28.
• Implement safety and capacity improvements along
  Route 234.
• Improve intercity freight and passenger rail
  services.
• Implement intelligent transportation systems
  (including aviation navigational aid systems)
  throughout the corridor, as appropriate.

• Need and Rationale
• TBD

Sponsors Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation Virginia Department of Aviation