Title
Resolution in Support of the City of Hampton’s and Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Temporary Closure Initiative of the Interstate 64 Eastbound Ramps at Mallory Street and Settlers Landing Road During Construction of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Segment 4C Project
Purpose
The Hampton Roads Express Lane (HREL) Segment 4C Project (UPC 117840/119638) will widen Interstate 64 (“I-64”) and rehabilitate the existing lanes with an additional 12-foot-wide travel lane in each direction. Traffic volumes and congestion on I-64 continue to rise each year, with significant delays associated with peak traffic volumes, incidents in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (“HRBT”), and Major Lane Blocking Incidents. As the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) Expansion Project and the HREL Segment 4C projects are scheduled to begin construction next year, the City of Hampton and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are working in coordination to implement temporary closures of the I-64 eastbound entrance ramps at both Mallory Street and Settlers Landing Road. Based on VDOT modeling, maintaining traffic volumes on the interstate will reduce congestion on the City’s arterial network in advance of planned construction.
The proposed ramp closures, or ramp metering, are recommended to be seven days a week from 3pm - 6pm (peak traffic periods) as a means of eliminating “cut through” traffic on the City’s arterial network and enhancing traffic flow on I-64. Remotely controlled gates, advance warning signage, and establishment of procedures for emergency vehicle use are the proposed method of traffic control during the peak traffic periods. Upon completion of construction the HRBT expansion and HREL Segment 4C, all temporary ramp closure equipment and fabricated items will be removed. The ramp modifications would not be implemented until 2022 and the City will continue to work with all stakeholders in piloting other efforts as well as continue additional analysis related to traffic congestion associated with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project.
...Discussion
See Purpose/Background.
...Impact
During the proposed ramp closure times, traffic volumes on the city’s arterial network are expected to significantly increase on E. Pembroke Ave. between E. Mercury Blvd. and LaSalle Ave. and as traffic approaches the I-64E on-ramps at the intersections of LaSalle Ave. and W. Mercury Blvd. and LaSalle Ave. and I-64.
Rec
Approve the resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is administering the Hampton Roads Express Lane (HREL) Segment 4C project (UPC 117841/119638) (the “Project”) to enhance the flow of traffic on Interstate 64 (“I-64”);
WHEREAS, VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have previously reviewed the option for ramp metering at the Mallory Street and Settlers Landing Road I-64 Eastbound ramps to reduce “cut through” traffic on the City of Hampton’s (the “City’s”) arterial network during peak traffic volume periods;
WHEREAS, the City has implemented traffic flow measures on the arterial network in the past, such as “Don’t Block the Box” and tubular lane delineators, at the City’s expense, which have not reduced the volume of “cut through” vehicles utilizing both public and private roads to access the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT);
WHEREAS, daily ramp closures are proposed to be scheduled from 3:00PM - 6:00PM (peak traffic period) in conjunction with the previously completed FHWA and VDOT Ramp Metering study;
WHEREAS, ramp gates are proposed to be remotely controlled and include emergency vehicle preemption with law enforcement support;
WHEREAS, that the ramp modifications will not be implemented until 2022, and the City will continue to work with all stakeholders, including but not limited to Hampton University and the Hampton VA Medical Center, in piloting other efforts as well as continuing additional analysis related to traffic congestion associated with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project;
WHEREAS, a robust communications campaign to alert drivers, including overhead message boards on I-64 and on the City’s arterial network is proposed in conjunction with printed and digital marketing by both the City and VDOT;
WHEREAS, the ramp closures and associated equipment will be removed upon completion of construction of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) Expansion and Hampton Roads Express Lane (HREL) Segment 4C projects; and
WHEREAS, upon receiving approval from FHWA and after installing all associated equipment, VDOT and the City will develop a Standard Operation Procedure for the ramp closure gates, which will be operated by VDOT, in conjunction with traffic control measures, as necessary, supported by Hampton Police Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that the proposed plan to implement temporary closures of the I-64 Eastbound Ramps at Mallory Street and Settlers Landing Road daily during the peak traffic periods throughout construction of the Hampton Roads Express Land (HREL) Segment 4C project is strongly endorsed and supported by the City Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia encourages the Federal Highway Administration to approve this temporary closure of the I-64 Eastbound Ramps at Mallory Street and Settlers Landing Road daily during the peak traffic periods throughout construction of the Hampton Roads Express Land (HREL) Segment 4C project.