OFF THE WIRE
http://www.dailypress.com/news/traffic/dp-nws-street-smart-1127-20111126,0,766774.column
Federal grant funds to support Virginia traffic safety programs
By Jon Cawley
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles announced last week the award of nearly $19 million in grants to support statewide traffic safety programs.
Grant funds — that originated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — were administered in varying amounts by the DMV to local and state government agencies, higher education entities and non-profit organizations. The grants are to fund efforts to improve safety belt and child safety seat usage; deter impaired, aggressive and distracted driving; lower motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities; and to promote awareness of risks to teen and senior drivers, according to a DMV statement.
The bulk of the $18.9 million in funding — $6.8 million — will go to state agencies while $5.56 million will go to local government entities. About $3.3 million will be distributed to non-profits and $1 million will be allocated to colleges and universities, according to DMV data related to the grants.
Street Smart
Most of the funding was for "selective enforcement" operations which include police activities such as conducting saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
Allocations to Hampton Roads localities, based on DMV data, included:
•Hampton — $44,287
•Newport News — $39,240
•York — $34,393
•Williamsburg — $10,500
•Poquoson — $20,528
•James City County — $41,212
•Norfolk — $80,780
•Virginia Beach — $135,100
•Isle of Wight — $28, 618
For a full list of grant recipients, go to http://www.dmv.virginia. Click on "Grants Management" under the Commercial Services tab and look for the "2012 Transportation Safety Grand Awards" heading.
Tide gate testing
The Virginia Department of Transportation will conduct routine tide gate testing at the Interstate 64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel on Dec. 4 from 5 a.m. until 6 a.m., according to a VDOT statement.
Crews will fully cycle tide gates and roadway drain valves at the openings of both tunnels as part of routine testing that is conducted every six months, the statement said.
Motorists should expect delays during the testing period and are encouraged to use the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel as an alternate route.
Ferry service
The Jamestown-Scotland ferry, Pocahontas, will be taken out of service Monday so it can undergo biennial hull inspections and other maintenance. The ferry will return to service by February, according to a Virginia Department of Transportation statement.
The ferries Williamsburg, Surry and Virginia will remain in service, but motorists should expect delays, especially during peak times, as operations will be diminished by 40 vehicles per hour, VDOT stated. Drivers should consider taking the Interstate 664 Monitor Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, The James River Bridge (Route 17) or the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge (Route 106/156).
