Virginia bids for more stimulus money for rail
Virginia applied for $1.8 billion in federal stimulus money Friday to improve 112 miles of railroad along the Inter-state 95 corridor.
If approved, the money would fund 19 projects along the rail line, from Petersburg to Washington. The improve-ments would allow trains to increase their speed from 79 to 90 mph along the line by constructing a third set of rails, building four major bridges, constructing 97 rail/highway crossovers and re-aligning 82 track miles.
"With this second round of high speed rail applications, we are setting the stage for Virginia to achieve an entirely new standard of intercity passenger rail service along the I-95 corridor," stated Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in a press release. "Even in the midst of the worst economy in a generation, the commonwealth is committed to rebalancing transportation options for Virginians, creating jobs and sustaining our environ-ment."
The Federal Railway Administration made available earlier this year $8 billion in grant money for high speed and intercity rail improvements.
In August, the state applied for $74.8 million for the construction of a third set of rails between Powell's Creek near Dumfries to Arkendale in Stafford County. The new track would lay the groundwork for the commuter railroad, Virginia Railway Express, to begin operating express trains from Fredericksburg to Washington, said VRE spokesman Mark Roeber in August.
Those trains as well as other passenger trains that would use the third rail would take 146,000 off the roads each year, according to the state. It is also expected to provide $92.6 million in profit for the state over the next 30 years.
The money would also go to build other outlines projects, including extending the platforms at the Lorton, Rippon, Brook, Leeland, Woodbridge and Franconia VRE stations, as well as building a second platform at the Crystal City station, according to documents from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
It’s about as dumb as building golf courses in PWC. Few will ride the express trains. 90 miles an hr between Powell’s Creek and Stafford—- then back to regular speed. This is just pie in the sky dreams…some folks haven’t gotten the word that few ride trains anymore. Maybe we can go back to the days of overland stage coaches and coveed wagons.
Sure beats that crazy price for METRO ala Kaine and Connolly and that other METRO touter, what’s his name Nichols or something.
Advertisement