VDOT Projections don’t add up

A November 24, 2013 column in the Roanoke (Virginia) Times points out statistics that RAIL Solution has pointed out before. The I-81  numbers for predicted increase in traffic that VDOT has been using in their “Six-Year Improvement Program” to justify highway expansion projects just don’t square with the actual recent numbers.

The Shenandoah Valley Network said the only reasonable way forward now is for the Virginia Department of Transportation to draw new traffic forecasts, discard those that appear off course and back off plans announced about a year ago to widen the road to up to eight lanes.

With these reduced numbers for highway usage, more money should be available from the state transportation budget to improve rail systems for freight and passengers and reduce the need for expanded highways.