Hampton Roads

The Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia has a population of about 1.6 million and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. It consists of 16 separate cities and counties with a combined land mass of almost 3,000 square miles. Hampton Roads is home to the third largest port in the country and more than a dozen military installations (including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Command Transformation). Considering these factors and the potentially devastating effect that a large-scale natural or man-made disaster could have on the region, communications and emergency preparedness are of critical importance. A key component of that preparedness is a communications system network that provides interoperability among local, regional, state, federal and Department of Defense public safety first responders.

The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) consists of representatives from each of the 16 cities and counties that make up Hampton Roads and exists to help solve local and regional transportation and planning issues. The HRPDC is currently assisting in solving the problem of regional interoperability by utilizing funds from a port security grant to implement a microwave network that can provide voice and data transport throughout the Hampton Roads region.

In addition to the microwave system, Virginia Beach was awarded a Homeland Security grant and is working with members of the Hampton Roads Trunked User’s Group (HRTUG) in the implementation of a nationally recognized regional 700 MHz Project 25 (P25) voice system and high speed mobile data system. The related effort called ORION (Overlay Regional Interoperability Network) will provide a wide area mobile data and P25 radio system in support of the region’s public safety first responders.
 
Hampton Roads will be one of the first regions in the country to test multiple new technologies to support regional interoperability. The anticipated success of these projects will provide valuable lessons learned in the areas of cooperative procurement, regional operations and technical aspects that can be utilized by agencies nationwide. Once the operational and technical solutions have been successfully implemented, Hampton Roads will build on the foundational charters to grow the interoperability solutions further throughout the region.

For more on the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (676K)

For more information regarding the HRPDC, please contact Harry Yeomans, Manager, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, at harry.yeomans@norfolk.gov.