Earlier today at Commonwealth Transportation Board, Virginia CTB members got an update on the facts from the I-95 snow snafu from last week.
After action report is still being put together by VDOT, VDEM, VSP.
After action report is still being put together by VDOT, VDEM, VSP.
"Our commitment is to improve what we do and protect the traveling public," transpo sec. Shannon Valentine said.
"I am just so sorry that happened to anybody. It was heartbreaking for me."
"I am just so sorry that happened to anybody. It was heartbreaking for me."
"From the moment I learned of what had happened along 95, my complete focus was getting that highway opened. It was completely devoted to recovery of that asset and moving those people. There was nothing that could deter us from being completely committed to making that happen.
VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich said there are a lot of lessons to be learned.
"Did we do everything right for the department? The answer is no."
Says they'll look at the after-action report and make changes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"Did we do everything right for the department? The answer is no."
Says they'll look at the after-action report and make changes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
VDOT is calling last week's storm "Winter Storm Frida."
I missed that we named this particular storm.
I missed that we named this particular storm.
VDOT Chief of Maintenance and Operation Kevin Gregg said
- 14 inches of snow fell at times at 3 inches an hour
- 500,000 customers lost power (most restored now, but not all)
- 1.5 million cubic yards of debris (trees etc)
- 14 inches of snow fell at times at 3 inches an hour
- 500,000 customers lost power (most restored now, but not all)
- 1.5 million cubic yards of debris (trees etc)
Here's what VDOT and other agencies said they did ahead of the storm. 4,000 VDOT workers mobilized across the state. 7,000 pieces of equipment (including contractors).
Messaging about snow may not have connected deeply with people as it was warm the day before, Gregg said.
Messaging about snow may not have connected deeply with people as it was warm the day before, Gregg said.
Here are some of the challenges VDOT said they faced in response to the storm that stranded thousands of drivers, some for more than 24 hours.
Transpo Sec. Valentine said she would've flipped the first two bullet points in this graphic.
VDOT says the safety of the public goes hand in hand with recovering the operation of the interstate.
VDOT says the safety of the public goes hand in hand with recovering the operation of the interstate.
Gregg says getting a helicopter in the air Tuesday to get eyes on the whole situation was a turning point so they could target the problem areas.
Once traffic jam was fixed, it was just a few hours to get traffic cleared.
Once traffic jam was fixed, it was just a few hours to get traffic cleared.
Here's what all will be included in the I-95 snow traffic jam after-action report.
Birch said he's looking at messaging and communications...
- Looking at language in press releases ahead of the storm
- How things are communicated while people are driving
- How the state used and can use messaging signs on the interstate.
- Looking at language in press releases ahead of the storm
- How things are communicated while people are driving
- How the state used and can use messaging signs on the interstate.
Valentine said departments were far more communicative and proactive before the last storm over the past weekend.
CTB member Marty Williams lamented the 1,000s of armchair snow removal experts on Facebook.
It's a tough job, he says.
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," he said of whether to cancel school because of snow.
"They did their absolute best," he says of the crew working I-95.
It's a tough job, he says.
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," he said of whether to cancel school because of snow.
"They did their absolute best," he says of the crew working I-95.
CTB member Greg Yates asks about the possibility of using drones to get eyes on crashes, and potentially deliver food in future.
Brich said that is part of the review. They tried to get drones from Prince William County, but their drone pilot was actually stuck in the backup.
Brich said that is part of the review. They tried to get drones from Prince William County, but their drone pilot was actually stuck in the backup.
CTB member Raymond Smoot said the notion that we can avoid any travel impacts because of snow is specious. People need to heed the (travel) advice offered.
Smoot once spent 11.5 hours stuck on I-81, so "I'm guilty of it, too."
Smoot once spent 11.5 hours stuck on I-81, so "I'm guilty of it, too."
Smoot also asks about how this could've been handled if there were only electric vehicles.
No real answers were given.
No real answers were given.
And now rail officials are talking about the impacts of the storm on train travel, which the RTD covered pretty well: richmond.com/news/state-and…
Train officials say it's a tough balance b/c if you cancel trains, then people think they should drive, which you don't want to encourage.
But power lines and trees came down on the track during the storm. 1,200 trees cleared across the state.
Most trains returned to stations
But power lines and trees came down on the track during the storm. 1,200 trees cleared across the state.
Most trains returned to stations
Here are some of the trains affected by this storm last week.
Incoming Transportation Sec. Shep Miller said we should thank workers who did as much as they could and also do a thorough review of what could've gone better.
Miller said people are "needers of information." They need a sense of comfort and idea of what they're dealing with.
Miller said people are "needers of information." They need a sense of comfort and idea of what they're dealing with.
CTB members say this after-action review needs a mix of accountability and compassion.
That wraps this discussion this morning.
That wraps this discussion this morning.
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