Joe McAndrew: Efforts to stretch rail s regional reach must not come to a stop bizjournals.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bizjournals.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
To maximize our collective benefit from the recent passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the region needs to make sure our capital investment programs include “shovel-worthy” projects. Here are 10 projects that fit the bill.
Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation has thrown more cold water on an already frozen proposal to extend the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line to Haymarket or Gainesville.
A version of this article first appeared in the Virginia Mercury.
Gov. Ralph Northam’s recent budget allocation of $50 million to extend intercity passenger rail service from Roanoke to the New River Valley is just the latest in a long line of sizable investments his administration has made into the future of rail in the commonwealth, including a $3.7 billion dollar track acquisition deal with CSX and the launch of the Long Bridge project.
However, the Greater Washington Partnership a business community think tank says a new regional rail vision that includes Maryland, Washington, DC, and the federal government is crucial to maximizing Virginia’s investments.
Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains serve the Fredericksburg train station.
Fredericksburg’s transportation officials will work in conjunction with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to improve passenger train experience in Fredericksburg City and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
The Passenger Rail Authority was established earlier this year has been tasked with promoting, sustaining, and expanding passenger and commuter rail service availability in Virginia. It will also own all the new tracks meant for passenger rail in Virginia, including the third rail that will run from Union Station in Washington D.C. to Spotsylvania County.
One year ago, Gov. Ralph Northam announced a $3.7 million deal that would double the number of Amtrak trains that would run between Washington and Richmond and increase Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service by 75 percent.