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I-81 INITIATIVES I-81 INITIATIVES IN VIRGINIAIN VIRGINIA

Fred Altizer, Jr., P.E.Fred Altizer, Jr., P.E.

Assistant to the Chief EngineerAssistant to the Chief Engineer

I-81 Program ManagerI-81 Program Manager

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I-81 InitiativesI-81 Initiatives

• Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions• Corridor Improvement StudyCorridor Improvement Study

• Tolling I-81Tolling I-81

• PPTAPPTA

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Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions• 325 miles – 90 interchanges325 miles – 90 interchanges• Rolling and mountainous terrainRolling and mountainous terrain• Traffic increased from 25,000 vpd in Traffic increased from 25,000 vpd in

1990 to 57,000 (near Roanoke) in 20031990 to 57,000 (near Roanoke) in 2003

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The terrain of I-81 from Tennessee to West Virginia

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Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• Designed for 15% trucks; now 20%-40%Designed for 15% trucks; now 20%-40%

• One of top eight truck routes in the U.S.One of top eight truck routes in the U.S.

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Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• Diversity on I-81Diversity on I-81– commercial commercial – commuterscommuters– studentsstudents

•29 colleges and universities29 colleges and universities– recreationalrecreational

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Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions• Ongoing improvementsOngoing improvements

– Some constructionSome construction– Safety enhancementsSafety enhancements– ITS technologyITS technology

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I-81 InitiativesI-81 Initiatives

• Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• Corridor Improvement StudyCorridor Improvement Study• Tolling I-81Tolling I-81

• PPTAPPTA

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement StudyStudy

• NEPA NEPA – Launched study Launched study

in January 2004 in January 2004 in partnership in partnership with FHWA with FHWA

– Includes highway Includes highway and rail conceptsand rail concepts

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement StudyStudy

NEPA (National Environmental Policy NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)Act)

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement StudyStudy

• Tiered EIS Tiered EIS processprocess – Tier 1: corridor-Tier 1: corridor-

wide issueswide issues– Tier 2: site-Tier 2: site-

specific issuesspecific issues

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement StudyStudy

• Tier 1 decisionsTier 1 decisions

– Concepts for Concepts for highway and railhighway and rail

• Number of lanesNumber of lanes

• Partial or complete Partial or complete separation of trucks separation of trucks and cars and cars

• Defined segmentsDefined segments

• Additional rail capacityAdditional rail capacity

– Approval to advance Approval to advance I-81 as a toll pilot I-81 as a toll pilot

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement StudyStudy

Tier 1 Schedule:Tier 1 Schedule:

• Draft Tier 1 EIS – spring 2005Draft Tier 1 EIS – spring 2005

• Public hearings – spring 2005Public hearings – spring 2005

• CTB action – mid-2005CTB action – mid-2005

• Final Tier 1 EIS – summer 2005Final Tier 1 EIS – summer 2005

• Tier 1 ROD – summer 2005Tier 1 ROD – summer 2005

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Corridor Improvement Corridor Improvement Study Study

Typical Analyses in Tier 2:Typical Analyses in Tier 2:• Land UseLand Use

• ParklandsParklands

• FarmlandsFarmlands

• Hazardous MaterialsHazardous Materials

• Air QualityAir Quality

• NoiseNoise

• Historical, Historical, Archaeological and Archaeological and Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources

• Natural Resources Natural Resources Including: Including: – Wetlands Wetlands

– Threatened and Threatened and Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

– Water QualityWater Quality

– Visual EffectsVisual Effects

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I-81 InitiativesI-81 Initiatives

• Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• Corridor Improvement StudyCorridor Improvement Study

• Tolling I-81Tolling I-81• PPTAPPTA

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Tolling I-81Tolling I-81• VDOT is applying for tolling, in the event the VDOT is applying for tolling, in the event the

CTB and FHWA approve major improvementsCTB and FHWA approve major improvements

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Tolling I-81Tolling I-81

• March 5, 2003 – VDOT submitted application March 5, 2003 – VDOT submitted application to FHWA under Section 1216(b) of TEA-21to FHWA under Section 1216(b) of TEA-21

• Requested approval for I-81 to participate in Requested approval for I-81 to participate in the Interstate Reconstruction and the Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot ProgramRehabilitation Pilot Program

• 3 slots available nationwide3 slots available nationwide

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Tolling I-81Tolling I-81• March 27, 2003 - FHWA granted “conditional March 27, 2003 - FHWA granted “conditional

provisional acceptance” of applicationprovisional acceptance” of application

• October 2003 - FHWA and VDOT began October 2003 - FHWA and VDOT began working on actions needed for “provisional” working on actions needed for “provisional” approval approval

• Provisional approval expected in 2005, at end Provisional approval expected in 2005, at end of Tier 1 of current environmental studyof Tier 1 of current environmental study

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Tolling I-81Tolling I-81Actions Needed Prior to Final Actions Needed Prior to Final

ApprovalApproval

• MPO ConsultationMPO Consultation• Pilot Study Work Pilot Study Work

PlanPlan• NEPA Process, NEPA Process,

Tier 1Tier 1• Environmental Environmental

ScopingScoping AnalysisAnalysis

• Basic Financial Basic Financial PlanPlan

• Project Project Management PlanManagement Plan

• Public Involvement Public Involvement PlanPlan

• Agreement(s) Agreement(s) between FHWAbetween FHWA and VDOTand VDOT

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I-81 Tolling IssuesI-81 Tolling Issues

• Virginia law allows Virginia law allows tolls only on truckstolls only on trucks

• TEA-21 allows states TEA-21 allows states to decide who and to decide who and how much to tollhow much to toll

• FHWA says toll FHWA says toll revenue from I-81 revenue from I-81 cannot be used to cannot be used to enhance rail capacityenhance rail capacity

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I-81 InitiativesI-81 Initiatives

• Current ConditionsCurrent Conditions

• Corridor Improvement StudyCorridor Improvement Study

• Tolling I-81Tolling I-81

• PPTAPPTA

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PPTAPPTAPublic Private Transportation Act of Public Private Transportation Act of

19951995• Under PPTA, a Virginia purchasing law, Under PPTA, a Virginia purchasing law,

VDOT solicited proposals to design, build, VDOT solicited proposals to design, build, maintain and/or operate all or parts of I-81 maintain and/or operate all or parts of I-81

• March 5, 2004 - Commissioner directed March 5, 2004 - Commissioner directed VDOT to begin negotiations with STARVDOT to begin negotiations with STAR

• I-81 Corridor Improvement Study will help I-81 Corridor Improvement Study will help determine what can be builtdetermine what can be built

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PPTAPPTA

• Negotiating a comprehensive Negotiating a comprehensive agreementagreement

• NEPA provides the basis for the NEPA provides the basis for the decision-makers decision-makers

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www.I-81.orgwww.I-81.org

Thank you.Thank you.