About the Process
The Project is currently in an Interim Agreement phase between VDOT and ERC.
In accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995, the conceptual proposal submitted by ERC has undergone a rigorous public evaluation process, including these phases:
1 - Quality Control
The Virginia Department of Transportation performed a quality control review of the conceptual proposal to ensure its compliance with applicable requirements and on October 29, 2008, VDOT Commissioner David Ekern accepted for further consideration Elizabeth River Crossing’s conceptual proposal.
2 - Independent Review Panel (IRP)
The IRP held five public meetings between March 25 and June 10, 2009, to facilitate its evaluation of ERC’s conceptual proposal and the Project. The meetings were held in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth and allowed public comment, recommendations and comments from impacted local jurisdictions and presentations from ERC and VDOT.
Comprised of 15 members with expertise and relevance to the Project, the IRP reviewed and evaluated the conceptual proposal, based on the evaluation and selection criteria in the Public-Private Transportation Act Implementation Guidelines and the Solicitation for Proposals. During its deliberations, the IRP considered public comment, recommendations and comments from impacted local jurisdictions, presentations from ERC and VDOT, the Solicitation for Proposals and ERC’s conceptual proposal in the development of its recommendations. The IRP determined that ERC is qualified and capable to undertake the development and operations of the Project. View more information on the IRP
3 – Commonwealth Transportation Board Recommendation
Following review and recommendations by the IRP, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) reviewed ERC’s conceptual proposal and recommendations of the IRP, and on July 16, 2009, by resolution, recommended the proposal advance and that VDOT proceed to an interim agreement. Read CTB Resolution
4 - Submission and Selection of Detailed Conceptual Proposal
Consistent with the provisions of the PPTA Implementation Guidelines and based on the IRP and CTB recommendations and direction from the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner, Elizabeth River Crossings’, LLC conceptual proposal was advanced directly to phase five of the procurement process to begin negotiations of an interim agreement.
5 – Negotiations
The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner advanced the Elizabeth River Crossings conceptual proposal and directed Virginia Department of Transportation to commence negotiations for an interim agreement by letter dated June 23, 2009.
More information about the IRP panel and process can be found at http://www.midtowntunnel.org.
6 – Interim and/or Comprehensive Agreement
The interim agreement will be implemented in two phases. Phase one requires ERC to complete a project feasibility assessment to determine if the project is economically viable and will help to structure toll rates that will manage congestion. In phase two, ERC will complete preliminary engineering work and cost estimates to support the execution of a comprehensive agreement for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the project.
View the Skanska ID's Interim Agreement Release