Some nays, some OKs on tolls to pay for tunnels

By Jen McCaffery
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 22, 2009

PORTSMOUTH

Edward Ellis thinks the $2 to $3 that have been proposed as potential tolls at the Midtown and Downtown tunnels would be hard on Norfolk Naval Station and Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers.

But Dean McClain, a staff director of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said his wife told him she would be willing to pay those tolls to avoid the headache of sitting in traffic for an hour and a half.

They are two of more than 10 people who spoke at the first public hearing Tuesday on a $2 billion proposal by a consortium of private companies to add a second tube to the Midtown Tunnel, refurbish the Downtown Tunnel and build an extension to the Martin Luther King Freeway.

The second hearing will be held in Norfolk tonight. A state-appointed independent review panel is conducting the hearings and vetting the proposal.

The meeting began with presentations by Virginia Department of Transportation staffers on Elizabeth River Crossings LLC’s ability to do the job.

Malcolm Kerley, VDOT’s chief engineer, said that, from an engineering standpoint, Elizabeth River Crossings is well-qualified to move the project forward.

He added that now the question is, What are we going to have them build?

“We don’t think we put out a Cadillac tunnel ” in seeking bids for proposals, Kerley said.

VDOT officials are looking to lower the costs and will meet with representatives from Elizabeth River Crossings on Thursday to agree on the scope of the project.

It’s envisioned as a public-private partnership, and the consortium would operate the projects for 50 years. Tolls would be as high as $3 each way for cars and $9 for trucks at both tunnels, plus a 50-cent car toll and $1.50 truck toll on the MLK extension.

The financial vetting of the project will take place at a May 13 meeting.

Other speakers raised questions specifically about the MLK extension.

The Rev. Philip Parker of Calvary Baptist Church said he thinks most of his congregation supports the Midtown Tunnel expansion but has “grave reservations” about the extension of the freeway, which is close to church property.

The project, envisioned as an elevated, north-south connection between U.S. 58 and Interstate 264, would displace 18 home-owners, two tenants, and seven businesses, according to VDOT.

Tolls also remained an issue. Councilman Doug Smith described the proposed $2 to $3 tolls as “certainly an amount that our citizens cannot bear.” He asked that the state consider getting rid of the debt the city is paying off to keep tolls off the Pinners Point Interchange in Port Norfolk.

City officials are also interested in getting light rail through the new Midtown Tunnel tube.

Kerley said VDOT doesn’t intend to have light rail run through the new Midtown Tunnel. But he said the builders can construct the second tube tall enough so other modes of transportation can be accommodated.

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http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/some-nays-some-oks-tolls-pay-tunnels