Other Modes of Regional Transportation  

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Air Travel 
Air travel for Virginia Beach residents and businesses is primarily through Norfolk International Airport. The Norfolk Airport Authority began the Master Plan Update process in September 2017 to address the need for and improvement of facilities at the Airport over the next 20 years or until annual passenger enplanements reach 2.8 million. When the Study began, annual passenger enplanements were 1.6 million.  The Norfolk Airport Authority owns a significant portion of land within the Burton Station SGA to mitigate incompatible land use and encourage compatible light industrial uses. The airport is not accessible by transit and Virginia Beach residents must reach it by motor vehicle.  (Norfolk International Airport Master Plan Update)

Rail 
Intercity passenger rail (Amtrak) service is the primary public transit service that connects the region to the rest of the country. In December 2012, Amtrak began providing passenger service to Southside Hampton Roads via a new train station at Harbor Park in Norfolk, which can be reached by charter bus at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Amtrak can also be reached by the Norfolk Light Rail line with access to Virginia Beach via the Newtown and Military Highway stations with the connecting bus routes into Virginia Beach.

Ports
The Port of Virginia (POV) consists of four facilities in Hampton Roads: Norfolk International Terminals, Newport News Marine Terminal, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, and the Virginia International Gateway facility. The POV attracts diverse businesses seeking efficient access to growing markets via international trade lanes and inland freight corridors. It is well-positioned to continue capturing a significant share of future container cargo growth due to its excellent facilities, shifts in global trade patterns, and efficient intermodal connections. (

Port of Virginia 2065 Master Plan)


Federal-State-Regional Transportation Programs

Other key players in transportation planning in Virginia Beach.

National Highway System (NHS)
    • Developed by Department of Transportation (DOT) in cooperation with the states, local officials, and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), the NHS includes the Interstate Highway System and other roads important to the nation’s economy, defense, and mobility. 
    • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) implements the Federal-Aid Highway Program that supports state highway systems by providing financial assistance for the construction, maintenance and operations of the nation's 3.9 million-mile highway network, including the Interstate Highway System, primary highways and secondary local roads. 

Virginia Highway Programs
    • VTRANS is Virginia's multimodal transportation plan developed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) every four years. VTRANS lays out the overarching vision and goals for transportation in the Commonwealth, identifies transportation investment priorities, and provides direction on implementation strategies and programs to the CTB and to transportation agencies such as Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), as well as regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). 
          • VTRANS2040  (January 2018) is a major milestone in a performance-based planning framework. It has been linked closely with policies from the City’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan and establishes a direct link between planning (VTRANS) and funding (SMART SCALE).  

    • Virginia’s SMART SCALE (§33.2-214.1) is about picking the right transportation projects for funding and ensuring the best use of limited tax dollars. It is the method of scoring planned projects included in the VTRANS and are funded by House Bill 1887. Transportation projects are scored based on an objective, outcome-based process that is transparent to the public and allows decision-makers to be held accountable to taxpayers. Once projects are scored and prioritized, CTB select the right projects for funding. SMART SCALE projects may be submitted by regional entities, including Metropolitan Planning Commissions (MPO), Planning District Commissions (PDC), and public transit agencies.  

Regional Transportation Programs
    • The Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) was created in 2014 and is empowered to procure, finance, build, and operate highway, bridge and tunnel projects in Hampton Roads utilizing the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund (HRTF) and other revenue sources that may become available. HRTAC utilizes the HRTF monies and tolls through its own adopted Program of Projects for construction projects on new or existing highways, bridges and tunnels and to issue bonds using revenues to support bond debt. HRTAC works closely with the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) who determines Project Prioritization and programs federal funds for the region. HRTAC contracts with VDOT to assist HRTAC in developing project readiness and to advertise and build certain projects through project development and construction agreements.  

    • The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) is the chief transportation planning body for the region.  It consists of representatives from local communities, public transportation agencies,  VDOT and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC). In compliance with federal regulations, the HRTPO has produced a long-range plan to ensure an efficient, intermodal transportation system for the future. On July 21, 2016, the HRTPO Board approved and adopted the Hampton Roads 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The 2040 LRTP will be the official transportation blueprint guiding multimodal transportation investments for the region. In order to receive federal or state funding transportation projects within Virginia Beach need to be shown on this plan. This plan must be fiscal constrained (identified funding sources) and must pass air quality conformity.  
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