Currently across the United States economy, unemployment rates are low – sometimes an indicator of a healthy economy where people who want jobs are employed and employers are equally all staffed up. But a quick glance at the headlines tells a different story, as many major employers are struggling to find workers to fill positions. With low unemployment rates and monthly jobs reports in the hundreds of thousands, what isn’t this indicator telling us?

Transit stakeholders, officials, and advocates for a regional transit network in Hampton Roads met in Richmond on February 3, 2022, for the first Hampton Roads Transit Advocacy Day at the General Assembly. The Advocacy Day event was one of the first initiatives of the Regional Transit Advisory Panel (RTAP).

HRTPO Establishes 2022 Regional Roadway Safety and Transit Performance Targets

Federal legislation requires Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to prepare and use a set of federally-established performance measures and set targets. Each MPO needs to approve regional performance targets in a number of areas including roadway safety, transit, bridge condition, pavement condition, roadway performance, and freight. The HRTPO must approve one-year regional performance targets for 2022 in three of these areas – roadway safety, transit asset management and transit safety.

A key economic development strategy is having a portfolio of available sites ready for business expansion. Companies that intend on making new investments and expanding market opportunities prioritize sites that offer low development risk and fast speed to market. Known as “Business Ready,” these sites have land use and zoning approval, due diligence completed, and infrastructure in place.

Project of the Month: Westhaven Bicycle Improvements-Portsmouth

Each month, HRTPO staff will highlight a project that is currently being implemented within the Hampton Roads region. This month, staff is highlighting the Westhaven Bicycle Improvements project located in the City of Portsmouth.

Last summer, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) staff, in collaboration with rural area stakeholders, began work on the 2045 Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan (RLRTP), a transportation vision plan for the City of Franklin and Southampton County. The RLRTP is part of an ongoing statewide effort to create and maintain regional transportation plans in rural areas that complement those in Virginia’s metropolitan and small urban areas.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) facilitates the sharing of information on transportation practice and policy by researchers and practitioners. TRB’s Annual Meeting, held every year in Washington DC, is a premier national conference for transportation professionals to exchange ideas, promote technical excellence, and provide expert advice on transportation policy and programs. At this year’s 101^st TRB Annual Meeting, HRTPO staff was invited to showcase its project prioritization process as well as ridesharing analysis.

As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into its second year, the Hampton Roads COVID-19 Impact Planning Hub continues to provide data and information for the region.

Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan meeting scheduled for March 2 (WAVY, February 9, 2022)

More broadband choices on way for city (Suffolk News Herald, January 26, 2022)

Dozens of bills would change environmental rules in Virginia. Here’s what lawmakers have proposed so far. (Virginian-Pilot, January 20, 2022)

Level of Traffic Stress Analysis for the City of Hampton Draft Report (Ends February 16, 2022)

(Ends February 28, 2022)

DRAFT 2022 Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Review Draft/Virtual Public Meeting (Meeting March 2, 2022 6pm; Review Period Ends March 9, 2022

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The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) fully comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related nondiscrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. HRPDC's website, www.hrpdcva.gov, and HRTPO's website, www.hrtpo.org, may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. HRPDC public meetings are always held in ADA-accessible facilities and in transit-accessible locations when possible. Auxiliary services can be provided to individuals who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Requests made within seven days will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice by HRPDC under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint may be in writing and filed with the HRPDC and/or the appropriate state or federal agency within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. For more information on HRPDC's Title VI program, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, please call (757) 420-8300 or email: rcrum@hrpdcva.gov