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IMMEDIATE Tamara Neale 804-786-6458 |
CO-08 Feb. 13, 2004 |
ADVISORY PANEL REACHES RECOMMENDATION ON I-81 PPTA PROPOSALS
SALEM - The advisory panel reviewing two detailed proposals to improve the Interstate 81 corridor in Virginia recommended to Commissioner Philip Shucet today that he enter into negotiations with STAR Solutions for a comprehensive agreement. The STAR proposal is based on the separation of car and truck lanes along the I-81 corridor.
The majority of the panel supported the concept to widen I-81 to four lanes in each direction, with tolls applied to both cars and trucks. The panel also strongly endorsed the need for a multi-state effort for rail improvements.
The panels recommendation and its supporting documents will go to Shucet for his review. Shucet will determine whether or not to accept, reject or modify the recommendation. He also will determine whether or not to enter into negotiations for a comprehensive agreement.
The panel has reached its recommendation following a diligent and objective review of the proposals and all other relevant documents and studies, said Pierce Homer, who is the deputy secretary of transportation and also chairs the advisory panel. Before making its recommendation, the panel also took into serious consideration the public comments received from citizens and local governments along the corridor.
The panels recommendation is based on the following conditions:
· Outcome of the environmental review process - No improvements can be made to the corridor unless they are part of a federally approved environmental impact statement. A comprehensive agreement with STAR Solutions cannot be implemented if the outcome of the environmental review process does not support the proposal. If the comprehensive agreement cannot be implemented, STAR Solutions will bear the total cost of developing and negotiating the PPTA proposal.
· Federal funding - The comprehensive agreement is contingent on the project receiving $800 million in the pending federal highway legislation.
· Tolls - The comprehensive agreement should be based on a tolling framework that minimizes car and truck traffic diversion to other major roadways in Virginia and recognizes the potential impacts on existing and future economic activity in the corridor.
· Phased construction - The comprehensive agreement should incorporate a phased approach to construction that addresses the most serious congestion and safety problems first.
The panel reached its recommendation after an extensive review of two proposals, Fluor Virginia Inc. and STAR Solutions. These proposals were submitted under the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA), which allows Virginia to partner with the private sector to build projects more efficiently.
I-81 Milestones:
September 2002 - VDOT solicited conceptual proposals from private entities to design, build, improve, maintain and/or operate all or parts of I-81 through Virginia.
January 2003 - VDOT received two conceptual proposals: Fluor Virginia Inc. and STAR Solutions.
March 2003 - The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to move both proposals to the next stage of review under the PPTA process.
September 2003 - VDOT received detailed proposals from both groups. The proposals were submitted to affected local governments with a 60-day comment period. The advisory panel was created, and review meetings were held in October, November, December and January. A public comment session was held in January.
February 2004 - The panel submitted its recommendation to the Commissioner.
The I-81 PPTA advisory panel consists of the following members:
Pierce Homer, Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Jim Bowie, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dr. Phillip Stone, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Helen Dragas, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dana Martin, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dee Bowles, Transportation Safety Board
Dr. Jonathan Gifford, George Mason University
Fred Altizer, VDOT District Administrator
Malcolm Kerley, VDOT Chief Engineer
Barbara Reese, VDOT Chief Financial Officer
George Conner, DRPT Assistant Director
For more information on the I-81 PPTA proposals, go to I-81 PPTA Proposals.
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
The majority of the panel supported the concept to widen I-81 to four lanes in each direction, with tolls applied to both cars and trucks. The panel also strongly endorsed the need for a multi-state effort for rail improvements.
The panels recommendation and its supporting documents will go to Shucet for his review. Shucet will determine whether or not to accept, reject or modify the recommendation. He also will determine whether or not to enter into negotiations for a comprehensive agreement.
The panel has reached its recommendation following a diligent and objective review of the proposals and all other relevant documents and studies, said Pierce Homer, who is the deputy secretary of transportation and also chairs the advisory panel. Before making its recommendation, the panel also took into serious consideration the public comments received from citizens and local governments along the corridor.
The panels recommendation is based on the following conditions:
· Outcome of the environmental review process - No improvements can be made to the corridor unless they are part of a federally approved environmental impact statement. A comprehensive agreement with STAR Solutions cannot be implemented if the outcome of the environmental review process does not support the proposal. If the comprehensive agreement cannot be implemented, STAR Solutions will bear the total cost of developing and negotiating the PPTA proposal.
· Federal funding - The comprehensive agreement is contingent on the project receiving $800 million in the pending federal highway legislation.
· Tolls - The comprehensive agreement should be based on a tolling framework that minimizes car and truck traffic diversion to other major roadways in Virginia and recognizes the potential impacts on existing and future economic activity in the corridor.
· Phased construction - The comprehensive agreement should incorporate a phased approach to construction that addresses the most serious congestion and safety problems first.
The panel reached its recommendation after an extensive review of two proposals, Fluor Virginia Inc. and STAR Solutions. These proposals were submitted under the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA), which allows Virginia to partner with the private sector to build projects more efficiently.
I-81 Milestones:
September 2002 - VDOT solicited conceptual proposals from private entities to design, build, improve, maintain and/or operate all or parts of I-81 through Virginia.
January 2003 - VDOT received two conceptual proposals: Fluor Virginia Inc. and STAR Solutions.
March 2003 - The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to move both proposals to the next stage of review under the PPTA process.
September 2003 - VDOT received detailed proposals from both groups. The proposals were submitted to affected local governments with a 60-day comment period. The advisory panel was created, and review meetings were held in October, November, December and January. A public comment session was held in January.
February 2004 - The panel submitted its recommendation to the Commissioner.
The I-81 PPTA advisory panel consists of the following members:
Pierce Homer, Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Jim Bowie, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dr. Phillip Stone, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Helen Dragas, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dana Martin, Commonwealth Transportation Board
Dee Bowles, Transportation Safety Board
Dr. Jonathan Gifford, George Mason University
Fred Altizer, VDOT District Administrator
Malcolm Kerley, VDOT Chief Engineer
Barbara Reese, VDOT Chief Financial Officer
George Conner, DRPT Assistant Director
For more information on the I-81 PPTA proposals, go to I-81 PPTA Proposals.
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
Page last modified: Feb. 17, 2004
