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Frequently Asked Questions
A. About the Project | B. Other Regional Projects | C. Proposed Technologies | D. Funding and Costs | E. Public Involvement A. About the Project
1. What has been done on the Project so far? What is the Project History?
DEIS Alternatives Under Consideration
No-Build Alternative
Transit Service Management (TSM) Alternative
Build Alternatives The LRT and BRT Alternatives would be located on a separate right-of-way for the entire project length. The Streetcar Alternative would be on- street running in mixed traffic for portions of the project, and located on the same separate right-of-way as the LRT and BRT Alternatives throughout some of the project length.
2. What is an “Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document required when pursuing federal funding for major capital investment projects with potential significant impacts. It identifies the results of a detailed assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of a proposed project. The impacts are evaluated for those that are positive and negative, permanent and temporary. Also evaluated are the cumulative impacts of other projects in the region and the irreversible and irretrievable loss of any natural resource. The EIS is circulated to local, state, and federal government agencies to make sure that all regulations are complied with and that the project is consistent with regional goals. The first phase of the EIS process is Scoping.
3. Why does the Peninsula need rapid transit? What is the purpose of the PRTP?
Currently, the demand for many major roadway facilities on the Peninsula including Newport News is greater than capacity, resulting in severe congestion during peak travel periods. In the future, anticipated population and employment growth in Newport News will create more demands on highways; however, the planned roadway improvements included in the Regional Transportation Plan are not expected to relieve rush hour congestion. Therefore, an alternative to the single-occupant vehicle is needed to help reduce growth in traffic. By providing time-competitive transportation choices for travel to and from areas expected to experience high growth, overall mobility in the region will be promoted and air quality will be improved.
Furthermore, because Newport News is largely built-out, the City plans to accommodate future growth by encouraging mixed-use, higher-intensity development at existing activity centers and redevelopment of underutilized areas. High-capacity transit can better support the travel demand associated with this type of development, because it can move more people with fewer vehicles. In addition, the presence of high-capacity transit can serve as a tool for encouraging the desired form of development.
The purpose of the Peninsula Rapid Transit Project is to:
· Increase transit travel speeds to provide a time-competitive alternative to personal motor vehicles for travel to and from major activity centers; · Increase transit ridership and the percentage of transit users in the region; · Enhance transit connections between major activity centers and high-growth areas; · Provide opportunities for transit-oriented development and transit-supported economic revitalization; and, · Contribute to maintenance or improvement of regional air quality.
The project also serves as a starter rapid transit service for the Peninsula. If warranted, the line could be expanded in the future to provide rapid transit service to other key activity centers on the Peninsula.
4. How will this plan improve the existing bus service?
The Peninsula Rapid Transit Project is intended to complement the existing bus service on the Peninsula. The buses currently have to travel on the congested roadways and that congestion is expected to worsen in the future. The PRTP technology options allow for the transit vehicle to travel in its own corridor and therefore avoid the roadway congestion. It is expected that once the PRTP Project is implemented, the existing bus service would be modified to intersect the PRTP project at key locations allowing travelers to link their transit trips to reach their final destination.
5. Who is responsible for the Project?
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) has the primary responsibility for overseeing the Project study under the guidance of the Federal Transit Administration policies and procedures; the city of Newport News and the Project’s various advisory committees. And of course, the public’s involvement in the study is very important to its success.
6. What role does Newport News have in this Project?
During the study phase of the Project, the city of Newport News will assist with providing information on the cities’ population, land use, future development, etc. so that data can be analyzed as part of the study. They also serve on the advisory committees for the Project and they will provide recommendations on the Project as the study proceeds. When the PRTP Project moves toward implementation, the City will provide a portion of the cost to build, operate and maintain the Project.
7. If I don’t live near the proposed route, how will it benefit me?
A transit system can benefit the community in many ways even if you are not a frequent user of the line. As part of the system’s development, HRT will consider how to modify its existing bus routes to connect with the transit alignment so even if you don’t live directly along the alignment you may be able to access it by bus. In addition, providing alternate means of transportation is vital to community residents and can provide access to jobs, schools, and medical facilities as well as recreational facilities which improves the quality of life for all residents. A new transit service may help address the increasing roadway congestion as well as to improve air quality.
8. Who would ride the system?
People use the current bus system for many reasons such as going to work, school, shopping, medical appointments and community activities. It is expected that many current bus riders will use the new system. The frequency and convenience of the new service is expected to attract new riders to use the system to meet their daily travel needs.
Previous analyses of ridership indicate that there would be sufficient ridership to support a new transit system on the Peninsula. Levels of ridership for the A3 alignment will be further assessed during the DEIS.
9. How would the system affect the environment?
Potential beneficial or adverse impacts to the environment from construction and operation of the system will be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement.
Preliminary analysis indicates the system could have a positive impact on regional air quality by reducing the annual vehicle miles traveled by automobiles.
10. Would the system relieve traffic congestion on the Peninsula?
One of the purposes of the Project is to help reduce the increasing rate of traffic congestion overall on the Peninsula. This Project alone will not eliminate traffic congestion on the Peninsula, but will help manage traffic congestion during the most heavily traveled times of the day. The extent to which congestion would be reduced will be modeled in the Environmental Impact Statement.
11. What kind of residential or commercial development is being planned associated with the proposed system?
The current study will examine existing and planned development along the alignments. The adopted land use plans of the city of Newport News will be used to identify planned development along the alignments. Many types of development are compatible with transit systems including residential, office and retail uses. Potential joint development of proposed station sites will be identified, in coordination with the city of Newport News.
12. How is a rapid transit system going to be different from the present bus system?
A rapid transit system usually has some form of exclusive lane or right-of-way, stops are spaced farther apart, and if running at ground level may have priority at traffic signals. The overall trip will take less time than standard bus trips.
13. How long will it take to travel from one end of the route to the other?
That depends on many factors that have yet to be developed but in almost all cases passengers will spend less point-to-point travel time than when using other modes, including personal vehicles. 14. How frequently will the system run?
Different times of day will warrant different schedules. Morning and evening rush-hours will have the maximum frequency while mid-day and late-night will have the least. The range frequency can be as frequent as 10 minutes during peak hours to 15 minutes or greater during off-peak hours.
15. What will happen in inclement weather?
Rapid rail systems are usually not affected by moderate snow or rain but can be hindered by heavy snow or freezing rain. Rapid bus systems can travel normally on wet roads but, as with other rubber-tired vehicles must take more caution in heavy rain and freezing weather conditions.
16. Would there be cameras and emergency phones on the system?
That decision has not been made at this time but many new systems do include on-board cameras and operator/dispatch communication capabilities.
17. What type of security will be on the system and in parking lots?
A final determination has not been made but it will likely be a mix of cameras and on-site and onboard security patrols. |