Comments on: Sen. Stolle flips on HRBT http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/24/sen-stolle-flips-on-hrbt/ Wed, 23 May 2012 11:55:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jack Bolsen http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/24/sen-stolle-flips-on-hrbt/#comment-700 Jack Bolsen Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:01:45 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/2008/03/24/sen-stolle-flips-on-hrbt/#comment-700 I'm surprised that anyone would think that a 3rd Crossing would do anything meaningful to relieve traffic congestion. Let's call it what it is: a result of the buisness lobby. It's the end result of allowing unelectable and unaccountable persons like Art Collins a real input in the decision making process. It doesn't do anything meaningful to relieve traffic congestion because the MMBT only services a part of the main traffic corridor (I664 as opposed to I64). The simple fact is that the HRBT is already old and will need to be significantly renovated to keep it safe and serviceable - VDOT employees will tell you the same thing. It makes sense to upgrade the main corridor and renovate an HRBT that will need it in the future anyway. I've been commuting for the better part of 10 years and I can tell you that when the HRBT gets congested, a ripple effect occurs that affects the back roads as well. HRBT traffic that gets backed up to Granby or Tidewater causes Ward's Corner to become a nightmare, and Ocean View turns into a parking lot. Same thing in the opposite direction; try going down Armistead when its backed up going east on I64. It's really high time to shelve the 3rd Crossing where it belongs: on a nice list of wants for the region. The big need is an expansion and renovation of the HRBT that will help everyone. I’m surprised that anyone would think that a 3rd Crossing would do anything meaningful to relieve traffic congestion. Let’s call it what it is: a result of the buisness lobby. It’s the end result of allowing unelectable and unaccountable persons like Art Collins a real input in the decision making process. It doesn’t do anything meaningful to relieve traffic congestion because the MMBT only services a part of the main traffic corridor (I664 as opposed to I64).

The simple fact is that the HRBT is already old and will need to be significantly renovated to keep it safe and serviceable – VDOT employees will tell you the same thing. It makes sense to upgrade the main corridor and renovate an HRBT that will need it in the future anyway.

I’ve been commuting for the better part of 10 years and I can tell you that when the HRBT gets congested, a ripple effect occurs that affects the back roads as well. HRBT traffic that gets backed up to Granby or Tidewater causes Ward’s Corner to become a nightmare, and Ocean View turns into a parking lot. Same thing in the opposite direction; try going down Armistead when its backed up going east on I64.

It’s really high time to shelve the 3rd Crossing where it belongs: on a nice list of wants for the region. The big need is an expansion and renovation of the HRBT that will help everyone.

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