Gloucester VA Links and News: Federal Highway Administration

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Friday, December 6, 2013

Governor McDonnell Announces Major Step Forward in Widening I-64 from Richmond to Newport News

English: Governor of Virginia at CPAC in . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Final Environmental Impact Statement Approved by Federal Government

Governor’s 2013 Transportation Bill Provides Funding to Begin the Widening with Section of I-64 in Newport News

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today a significant development to ease congestion and increase safety on I-64 in the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has signed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which supports the future widening of 75 miles of I-64 from I-95 in Richmond to I-664 in Hampton. As a result of new transportation funding passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, about $100 million is currently now available to widen a section of I-64 in Newport News.

“The signing of the FEIS is a critical step toward advancing improvements to highly traveled and congested areas of I-64 for commuters and travelers alike,” said Governor McDonnell. “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) worked diligently with the public, localities and the FHWA to get environmental work to a pivotal stage.

The FEIS identifies an alternative that allows adding lanes to a 75 mile stretch of I-64 between Hampton and Richmond. The decision on whether to widen inside the median or outside the existing roadway would be made on a section-by-section basis and closely coordinated with localities. Sections of roadway will be improved as funding is made available.

Currently, $100 million is programmed to widen five miles of I-64 from Jefferson Avenue to Fort Eustis Boulevard in Newport News. This section would be widened by one lane and a shoulder in each direction, increasing capacity for nearly 100,000 vehicles that drive this section of roadway every day.

Next steps require the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization to include the funding for this segment in their Transportation Improvement and Long Range plans. The FHWA will then issue a Record of Decision (ROD) on the segment following the update of the planning documents, which is expected by early next year. The ROD provides approval for the funded segment. VDOT is aggressively pursuing a design build advertisement by mid-2014.

“By completing the FEIS, the Commonwealth is making incredible strides to meet serious transportation needs along heavily congested and traveled areas of I-64,” said Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton. “We’re getting off to a good start by directing some of the new transportation funds to get the first segment widened.”

VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley added, “The federal approval follows several months of public review and input in addition to support by localities. Moving forward, VDOT will continue to work closely with the public and localities on I-64 improvements.”

For more background information on the study, go to the following link:

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/i-64_peninsula_study.asp.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Virginia Receives $57.3 Million in ‘Bonus’ Funding to Accelerate Transportation Projects

English: A Volvo articulated bus in contract service for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, operated by Virginia Overland Transportation, an urban-suburban bus line, in 2003 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Additional funding originally allocated to other states will go toward transportation projects in Virginia

RICHMOND — Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the Commonwealth of Virginia has received an additional $57.3 million in federal funds for transportation originally allocated to other states.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will use this additional funding for paving projects in each of its nine construction districts: $16.7 million will go toward interstate paving, $25.6 million is designated for paving primary roads and $13.7 million is allocated for paving secondary roads. Additionally, $1.3 million is slated for bridge painting/preventative maintenance. Later this month, VDOT will make its recommendation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which has final approval on how money is spent on transportation projects.

“This has been a historic year for transportation funding in Virginia,” said Governor McDonnell. “This 'bonus’ funding, along with the new and sustainable funding from the transportation bill, will enhance VDOT’s ability to move projects forward and continue to improve the condition of our roads. Virginia’s transportation system is vital to both economic opportunity and to the quality of life of every Virginian. These strategic investments will mean shorter commutes, new roads and more jobs across the Commonwealth.”

Each September, the FHWA reviews every state’s ability to commit allocated highway dollars as the federal fiscal year ends. States that cannot obligate federal funding must return that spending authority to the FHWA. The funds are then redistributed to states that can obligate all of their federal allocations and have additional eligible projects ready to move forward.