Hampton Roads Transportation Authority
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that has the responsibility for funding several major traffic projects in the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
area. As of March 2008, although its projects were considered to be needed, the agency's future was in some question while its controversial sources of funding were being reconsidered in light of a Virginia Supreme Court decision.
Enabling legislation
The Virginia General Assembly, as part of its 2007 session, approved House Bill 3202, which authorized the creation of the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (HRTA). A component of the legislation requires at least 7 of the 12 governing bodies, which must include at least 51 percent of the population to pass a resolution not later than December 31, 2007 approving the powers granted to the Authority. The state legislation also established the following conditions for HRTA including:- Grants the Authority the powers necessary to fulfill its purpose
- Sets the conditions necessary for the imposition and assessment of taxes and fees by the authority
- Identifies members
- Provides means for the Authority to impose, assess and collect taxes, fees and tolls
- Prioritize projects and funding to be undertaken by the Authority
- Enables localities to impose certain additional real estate taxes on commercial and industrial properties.
Local endorsement, representation
Although some of the localities did not vote to endorse the creation of the commission, the required minimums were approved, and the HRTA was formed in July 2007.The HRTA area includes the entire territory encompassed by all 12 localities, regardless who and how the particular city or county voted, and each are represented on its governing board. It is noteworthy that Virginia has independent cities
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
which are not politically within any county, but rather are considered essentially county-equivalent
County-equivalent
A county-equivalent in the United States is a term used by the federal government to describe one of the two following governmental subdivisions:#A unit of local government in certain states which is comparable to a county as found in most states....
(technically a federal term) for this purpose. While cities are excluded from their surrounding county, towns remain a part of the county. Hence, Isle of Wight County
Isle of Wight County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
includes the only two incorporated town
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
s in the area, known as the Town of Smithfield
Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census....
and the Town of Windsor
Windsor, Virginia
Windsor is an incorporated town in Isle of Wight County in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia in the United States. It is located near the crossroads of U.S. Route 460 and U.S. Route 258. The population was 916 at the 2000 census...
; the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisor's vote on formation and representative membership are the applicable ones for those town residents.
Cities and counties included
The following 9 cities and 3 counties constitute the 12 localities:- City of ChesapeakeChesapeake, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
- City of HamptonHampton, VirginiaHampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
- City of Newport NewsNewport News, VirginiaNewport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
- City of NorfolkNorfolk, VirginiaNorfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
- City of PoquosonPoquoson, VirginiaPoquoson is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 12,150 according to the 2010 Census...
- City of PortsmouthPortsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
- City of SuffolkSuffolk, VirginiaSuffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
- City of Virginia Beach
- City of WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
- James City CountyJames City County, VirginiaJames City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
- York CountyYork County, VirginiaYork County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Situated on the York River and many tributaries, the county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown...
- Isle of Wight CountyIsle of Wight County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
Projects
The enabling legislation as adopted in 2007 prioritizes the transportation projects that will be undertaken by the HRTA to include:- First Phase Projects:
-
- Route 460U.S. Route 460 in VirginiaU.S. Route 460 in Virginia runs east–west through the southern part of the state. It has two separate pieces in Virginia, joined by a relatively short section in West Virginia...
Upgrade - I-64Interstate 64 in VirginiaIn the U.S. state of Virginia, Interstate 64 runs east–west through the middle of the state from West Virginia to the Hampton Roads region, a total of . It is notable for crossing the mouth of the harbor of Hampton Roads on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the first bridge-tunnel to...
Widening on the PeninsulaVirginia PeninsulaThe Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name... - I-64 Widening on the SouthsideSouth Hampton RoadsSouth Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
- Downtown TunnelDowntown TunnelThe Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth with the independent City of Norfolk...
/Midtown Tunnel/MLK Extension - Southeastern Parkway/Dominion Blvd./Rt. 17
- I-664 Widening in Newport News and Southside including Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-TunnelMonitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-TunnelMonitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel is the 4.6 mile-long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 664 in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States...
- Route 460
- Second Phase Projects:
-
- I-564 from I-64 to the Intermodal Connector
- I-564 Connector to Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (marketed as the so-called "Third Crossing" of Hampton Roads)
- Craney IslandCraney Island (Virginia)Craney Island is a point of land in the independent city of Portsmouth in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. The location, formerly in Norfolk County, is near the mouth of the Elizabeth River opposite Lambert's Point on Hampton Roads. It is managed by the U.S...
Connector
Revenues
In total, the regional fees anticipated to be applied would generate an additional $170 million per year towards critical regional transportation projects. TollToll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
revenues would be additional funds available to the HRTA. Also, optional local taxes could generate additional revenue annually for local transportation projects.
As of February 6, 2008, the taxes scheduled to go into effect in the HRTA area on April 1, 2008 were:
- $10 automobile inspection fee
- 5 percent tax on automobile repairs
- Grantor's tax of 40 cents for every $100 of assessed value when selling a home
- Motor vehicle rental tax of 2 percent
- One-time vehicle registration fee of 1 percent
- Annual vehicle registration fee of $10
- 2 percent gas tax
Dissension, court rulings, and delays
During the 2008 session of the Virginia General AssemblyVirginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
, there were efforts sponsored by legislators from the area to include improvements to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is the -long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60. It is a four-lane facility comprising bridges, trestles, man-made islands, and tunnels under the main shipping channels for Hampton Roads harbor in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the...
, a major issue for localities on the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
, many of whose residents have complained that the proposed projects shortchange their area. Also, Del. Tom Gear sponsored H.B. 829 to abolish the HRTA. None of those measures was passed, however.
While the Assembly was still in session, on February 29, 2008, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that portions of the 2007 transportation law were unconstitutional in response to a case filed by State Delegate Robert Marshall and seven other residents challenging the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is a regional governmental unit established to fund regional transportation programs. The NVTA covers Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.The Virginia...
(NVTA). The court ruled that the General Assembly could not delegate its taxing powers to an unelected body. Since the HRTA is also not a directly elected body, the press reported that its funding sources as set forth at that time were also invalidated by the court ruling.
As of late March 2008, Hampton Roads area members of the General Assembly were communicating with local leaders on the Virginia Peninsula and in South Hampton Roads regarding developing solutions and requests for legislation for an upcoming special session of the state legislature planned to address the transportation funding crisis statewide, and also possibly address priorities and the additional funding needs of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
There seemed to be a consensus that
- some new funding dedicated to Hampton Roads projects was needed
- improvements to the Hampton Roads Bridge-TunnelHampton Roads Bridge-TunnelThe Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is the -long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60. It is a four-lane facility comprising bridges, trestles, man-made islands, and tunnels under the main shipping channels for Hampton Roads harbor in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the...
, previously excluded, would need to be part of any package that would be acceptable to most or all communities in the HRTA district.