Plans
According to VDOT, in 1958, an average of 6,000 vehicles a day used the facility. Almost 50 years later, an average of 88,000 vehicles a day were using the crossing, with volumes exceeding 100,000 during the tourist season.
A long range plan to be funded by the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (HRTA) would add more lanes to portions of the other major bridge-tunnel across the harbor, the MMMBT (on the western part of the Beltway), and provide new direct access to Norfolk, effectively providing a "third crossing" of Hampton Roads.
Some critics of that plan are concerned that the plan may provide little relief to the HRBT. However, as the HRBT has longer tunnel sections, adding additional capacity with new tube(s) would be more costly than many alternatives. Possible solutions suggested to relieve the HRBT include variable tolls to be highest during peak periods, to encourage motorists to select alternate routes or times of day. Enhanced mass transit services (such as restoring inter-city rail service to Petersburg and the Interstate 95 corridor) may also provide more affordable relief.
Read more about this topic: Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
Famous quotes containing the word plans:
“One who winks the eyes plans perverse things; one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 16:30.
“When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d
with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me
that follow’d,
And else when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d,
still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health,
refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,”
—Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
“Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort. Do not talk to him about the interests and rights of the human race; that little private business of his for the moment absorbs all his thoughts, and he hopes that public disturbances can be put off to some other time.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859)