Friday, September 29, 2023

State seeks public input for six-year transportation plan in Hampton Roads

Road work in Norfolk. (Justin Belichis/Southside Daily)
Road work in Norfolk. (Justin Belichis/Southside Daily)

CHESAPEAKE — Several road projects will be awarded state money to complete, and the Commonwealth Board of Transportation wants to hear from the public.

The public input meeting is Wednesday, March 29 at the Hampton Roads Transit Planning Organization’s regional building in Chesapeake, 723 Woodlake Drive, at 5:30 p.m.

The public input will guide the Commonwealth Board of Transportation as it develops its six-year improvement plan, which covers highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and public transportation projects.

State tax dollars will be invested in these projects, which were scored by the state’s digital prioritization process called SMART SCALE.

Scores are based on projects’ ability to mitigate congestion, improve economic development, safety, accessibility to jobs and environmental quality. In Hampton Roads, projects score higher if they reduce congestion, according to a Virginia Department of Transportation news release.

Once the all projects are scores and public input is received, the board will select which ones will be funded and included in the six-year plan by July 1, according to the release.

Projects in Virginia Beach on track to receive state funds, thanks to SMART SCALE, include the $29 million Laskin Road phase I-A, the $11.4 million Indian River Road phase VII-B and the $23.7 million Cleveland Street phase IV.

Residents who can’t attend are welcome to give their comment to the board via email before May 17.

For roads and highways, email Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov and for transit and rail, email DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov.

Follow Justin on Twitter @Justinbmmj or contact him at Justin@wydaily.com

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