Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $310.2 Million Loan to Eliminate Traffic Bottleneck in Hampton Roads, Virginia
Express lanes will alleviate congestion for commuters and truckers
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) will receive a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan of up to $310.2 million from the Build America Bureau. The loan will help fund much-needed express lanes and a free-flowing toll system that will together reduce chronic traffic in the area. The I-64/I-464 corridor is a critical regional artery that commuters rely on and freight companies utilize to access to the Virginia Port system, one of the largest ports on the East Coast.
This loan builds on Secretary Duffy’s broader campaign to eliminate traffic bottlenecks across America. Secretary Duffy visited the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project in September.
“Spending time in traffic isn’t just frustrating – it prevents families from getting where they need to go and costs local communities millions of dollars in lost economic activity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network is a transformative investment that will slash congestion, enhance safety, and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness. I want to thank former Governor Youngkin and Congresswoman Kiggans for their strong partnership in making this project move forward at Trump Speed.”
“The I-64 corridor is a lifeline for Hampton Roads—connecting our families, businesses, military installations, and ports. Improving this critical transportation corridor will ease congestion, strengthen our regional economy, and enhance the infrastructure that supports our military readiness and national security,” said Congresswoman Jen Kiggans. “I’m grateful to Secretary Duffy and the Build America Bureau for their partnership and commitment to delivering the resources Hampton Roads needs to keep growing and thriving.”
The project also enhances regional resilience by providing additional capacity for emergency evacuations and enabling more efficient deployment of military personnel, while minimizing impacts to civilian traffic during critical operations.
“HRTAC’s latest TIFIA loan reflects the Bureau’s commitment to building strong, lasting partnerships and promote innovative approaches that advance projects faster and at lower cost to maximize benefits to taxpayers,” said Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian, Ph.D. “This strategic investment will help implement a reliable, innovative express lanes network that benefits residents, businesses, and national defense needs.”
“This TIFIA loan will help Virginia complete the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network – providing fast and reliable travel choices along 45-miles of I-64,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue. “We thank Secretary Duffy and the Build America Bureau for their continued support of critical infrastructure in Virginia. TIFIA loans are a valuable resource allowing states to make key investments in critical corridors like the I-64.”
“We thank the Build America Bureau for providing this key financing for the construction of additional segments of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network. When complete, the 45-mile network will alleviate traffic congestion and provide a reliable travel option on Interstate 64, one of Virginia’s most heavily trafficked and economically vital roadways,” said HRTAC Executive Director Todd Halacy.“Step by step, the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Build America Bureau, has supported our efforts with TIFIA loan assistance. When including prior loans, the TIFIA program has provided the Commission with approximately $2.1 billion in support. We greatly appreciate our federal partners – not only the TIFIA program has enabled us to leverage our local Dollars, it has greatly reduced our borrowing costs and maximized our ability to deliver our program of projects faster.”
Additional Information:
Once completed, the HRELN 2026 Project is expected to deliver travel time savings of 10–15 minutes in express lanes and up to 10 minutes in general-purpose lanes. It will also eliminate a key regional bottleneck that impacts daily commuters, freight movement, and access to the Virginia Port system, one of the largest ports on the East Coast.
The TIFIA loan will finance multiple segments of the project, including:
- Converting existing general-purpose and HOV lanes into express lanes,
- Constructing new interchange improvements at I-64/I-464, and
- Implementing a fully integrated open-road tolling system across the network
Substantial completion anticipated by June 2030. This is HRTAC’s fourth project financed with TIFIA, including HRELN Segment 4C in 2023 and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Project in 2021.
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The Build America Bureau accelerates investment in transportation infrastructure by lending federal funds to qualified public and private borrowers; clearing roadblocks for creditworthy projects; and providing technical assistance services and grants to build local and regional capacity and implement best practices and innovative solutions in project planning, funding, financing, delivery, and operations. The Bureau draws on expertise across DOT to serve as the point of coordination for states, municipalities, private partners, and other project sponsors seeking federal financing.