VIRGINIA SUBMITS PRE-APPLICATIONS FOR MORE THAN $2 BILLION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECTS FROM FEDERAL RECOVERY FUNDS

~ Proposals focus on Washington, DC to Petersburg line ~

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor

Timothy M. Kaine                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     Governor                                                          July 10, 2009

Contact:               Gordon Hickey                                                         
Phone:                 (804) 225-4260                                                       
Cell Phone:          (804) 291-8977                                                      
Internet:              www.governor.virginia.gov

Contact:               Jennifer Pickett, DRPT                                                         
Phone:                 (804) 786-7432                                                       
Cell Phone:          (804) 221-1853                                                      
Internet:              www.drpt.virginia.gov

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the Commonwealth has submitted pre-applications for more than $2 billion of high speed rail projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA) high speed rail program. The rail stimulus program will provide $8 billion in federal funds to support high speed and intercity passenger rail projects across the country. Virginia’s applications focus on the I-95 corridor between Washington, DC and Petersburg. The projects will further the Commonwealth’s commitment to commercial and passenger rail options, including recent infrastructure investments and public-private partnerships.

“Virginia has made significant investments in rail options to help rebalance our transportation network in the Commonwealth,” Governor Kaine said. “As we continue to work towards high speed rail in Virginia, the availability of ARRA funds will help deliver more transportation choices and economic benefits to the public much more quickly than we would otherwise be able to achieve.”

The Commonwealth has submitted pre-applications that reflect the highest priorities for passenger rail investment in Virginia’s most congested travel corridors.

The I-95 rail corridor between Washington, DC and Petersburg is the top priority corridor for passenger rail improvements in Virginia based on population and employment densities, in addition to its strategic location connecting Virginia to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor. Virginia has invested more than $197 million in this corridor to-date, and recently executed an agreement with Amtrak to initiate a new Northeast Corridor train between Richmond and Washington, DC.

Completion of the following projects would support high speed passenger rail service in this corridor, and were submitted in pre-applications:

• Arkendale to Powell’s Creek: $72 million in rail infrastructure improvements between Fredericksburg and Prince William County, including 11 miles of third track; proposed for Round 1 funding under Track 1 as a “ready to go” project. This project could advance independently of the Washington, DC to Petersburg corridor program defined below.
• Washington, DC to Petersburg: $1.57 billion in rail infrastructure improvements such as additional tracks and signal, station and rail yard improvements; proposed for Round 1 funding under Track 2 as a corridor development program. This project includes Arkendale to Powell’s Creek as described above, in the event that FRA elects to fund the project as part of a corridor development program.

The Richmond/Hampton Roads corridor is the next priority for Virginia passenger rail enhancements. The limited transportation capacity in this region requires greater investment in choices such as passenger rail, and the current federal environmental study underway will provide the information needed to advance high speed rail service for this region.

more >>