NORFOLK, Va. — The 2023 Hampton Roads State of Transportation report marked many milestones.
More people used Amtrak trains in Hampton Roads during the 2022 fiscal year, and the Port of Virginia reached a record carrying more than 26 million tons of cargo. That’s 39% higher than in 2013.
Researchers noted bridge conditions are improving. The number of structurally deficient bridges in Hampton Roads has been decreasing. There were 36 bridges classified as structurally deficient in Hampton Roads as of August 2023. That's down from a high of 80 bridges in 2014.
The report also identifies trends in traffic and road conditions. It states pavements in Hampton Roads are in worse condition than any other area of the state.
“It does a little wear and tear on the shocks a little bit,” said Norfolk resident Theodore Corbin.
Congestion in the region has returned to pre-pandemic levels. According to TomTom, a consumer electronics and navigation technology company, Hampton Roads ranked 18th highest among large areas with populations between one and four million people in terms of the average annual time spent driving in 2022. In Hampton Roads, travelers lost an average of 15 hours due to being stuck in congestion in 2022. This is slightly lower than the average in comparable metropolitan areas.
“It’s just bad especially early in the morning when everybody is trying to get to work,” said Norfolk resident Rhonda Marshall.
In 2022, nearly one out of every three commuters traveled 30 minutes or longer to work. 5% had commutes of an hour or more. Some drivers blame the longer drive time on construction across the area.
“It ain’t too bad," Corbin said. "It’s just construction needs to go a little bit faster.”
“They’re taking us down from four lanes to three lanes to two lanes to one lane,” Marshall said.
Data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles recorded more than 24,000 crashes in 2022. 162 people died from traffic crashes. Although this figure is down compared to 2021, researchers say fatalities have increased by 24% over the last decade.
They believe fewer people wearing seatbelts has had an impact on injuries and deaths.
“My kids ride the bus…and I fear everyday…that I’m going to get a call that my kids were in an accident,” said Norfolk resident Ashley Barrett.
Virginia’s safety belt usage rate in 2022 was well below the national rate of 91.6%, and was the lowest usage rate of any state in the country. This is largely due to Virginia not having a primary enforcement safety belt law.
The report also added pedestrian and bicyclist deaths increased by 75 percent from 2013 to 2022. It made up two percent of the total crashes in Hampton roads but 22% of all roadway deaths in the area during that time
The report adds more than 40 roadway projects have been completed in Hampton Roads since 2013. Several others are underway – including the H-R-B-T expansion and improvements to Laskin Road.