TPO_Military

Military Transportation Needs

Hampton Roads is home to many U.S. military and supporting sites that are important to the defense and security of our nation. The total military population – including active duty, reserve, retirees and family members – totals approximately 300,000 or almost 20% of the area’s total population of 1.6 million. As a result of the area’s large military presence, much of the local economy is driven by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Defense readiness and efficient military operations require a sufficient transportation network so that cargo and personnel can be moved as quickly and safely as possible.

The overall purpose of this planning effort is to determine military transportation needs and to provide an efficient and safe transportation network for the military in Hampton Roads.

Click below to view recent coverage of the study.

Click below to
view the report.

In 2011, the HRTPO completed the Hampton Roads Military Transportation Needs Study: Highway Network Analysis. The HRTPO staff worked with various stakeholders – local military representatives, federal agencies, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Port Authority and local jurisdictions – to determine transportation concerns and needs of the local military.

Based on stakeholder input, the HRTPO staff identified a roadway network that includes both the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) and additional roadways that serve the military sites and intermodal facilities not included in the STRAHNET. The HRTPO staff reviewed this “Roadways Serving the Military in Hampton Roads” network to determine deficient locations, such as congested segments, deficient bridges, and inadequate geometrics. Based on stakeholder input and the analysis of deficient locations in this study, the HRTPO staff has recommended several transportation projects that may benefit military travel. The HRTPO staff plans to incorporate this work into future iterations of the Congestion Management Process and the regional Long-Range Transportation Plan Project Prioritization Tool to assist decision makers as they select future transportation projects.

The HRTPO staff is currently processing the results for the military commuter survey collected from November 8, 2011 to February 24, 2011.

Just a reminder: Traffic around Military Bases May Impact your Commute to Work next week, March 19-2.

Depending on where you live and/or work at the City, you may want to take an alternate route or allow yourself extra travel time during the week of March 19-24. Beginning March 19, the Navy will be conducting a training exercise, SOLID CURTAIN-CITADEL SHIELD 2012. This exercise is designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy Security Forces to respond to threats to installations and units. Exercise SOLID CURTAIN-CITADEL SHIELD 2012 is not in response to any specific threat, but a regularly-scheduled training exercise.

Measures have been taken to reduce disruptions to normal base and station operations around JEB Little Creek-Fort Story, Oceana Naval Air Station and Dam Neck Fleet Training Center. But there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around the bases. Roadways that may be impacted include: General Booth Blvd., Dam Neck Road, Harpers Road, London Bridge Road, Shore Drive, Northampton Blvd., Diamond Springs Road and Independence Blvd.

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