DRPT has recommended a ten-year $370 million rail improvement program along this corridor that includes a proposal for a parallel, third main line track over most of the corridor and identifies other track and signal improvements to increase railroad capacity and maximum speeds for both freight and passenger rail operations.

The General Assembly included $65.7 million for higher-speed rail projects in the Virginia Transportation Act of 2000.

DRPT has been working closely with Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which operates commuter rail service on the northern half of the corridor, and with CSX, which owns the tracks and other rail property. CSX also operates freight rail service along that route. A task force of representatives from DRPT, VRE and CSX has developed priorities for the entire corridor. Several projects designed to provide additional capacity for use by freight, commuter and intercity passenger trains are currently underway, including:

Quantico Creek Bridge: The 1,800-foot bridge is the only remaining single-track section of the entire 110-mile Washington, DC to Richmond corridor. Having just one track creates a significant bottleneck. Construction of a second two-track bridge across Quantico Creek, which is being managed by VRE, began in 2004 and will be completed in early 2007, at a cost of approximately $26 million.

Corridor Improvement Program: DRPT, VRE, CSX, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration have identified six projects necessary to improve the capacity and reliability of passenger rail service between Richmond and Washington, DC. DRPT, VRE and CSX have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining each party’s responsibility and created a timeline for implementing additional service when the following improvements are complete:

• Third Track, Virginia Ave. to 10th Street (L'Enfant Plaza in Washington, DC)
• Arkendale Crossover ( Stafford County)
• Third Track, SRO-RO ( Arlington County)
• Third Track, Franconia Hill ( AF-Ravensworth-Fairfax County)
• Third Track, FB to XR ( Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County)
• Elmont Crossover ( Hanover County)

DRPT is working with CSX to complete environmental reviews and finalize designs for these projects. The first two, the Arkendale and Elmont Crossovers, are under construction. All are scheduled to be completed by December 2007.

Richmond Area Improvements DRPT has completed a study of improvements needed to allow additional Amtrak trains to serve Main Street Station. This study recommends alternatives, identifies costs and prioritizes projects. DRPT is completing the final design for several projects that will reduce rail travel time between Staples Mill Station and Main Street Station. These projects, once finalized, can begin immediately through use of available funds from the Virginia Transportation Act of 2000.

Main Street Station Improvements The City of Richmond has finished renovating Main Street Station and began two Amtrak round trips per day in December 2003. The City and DRPT are moving forward on the next phase of development to allow additional Richmond-bound passenger trains to serve Main Street Station. The City has put together approximately $50 million from federal earmarks, ISTEA Enhancement grants and State Urban and transit funds to meet this goal.

Projects with Amtrak Amtrak has been actively involved in planning improvements to the corridor. In May 1999 Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration submitted a report to Congress titled “Potential Improvements to the Washington-Richmond Railroad Corridor.” This report has been used as a blueprint for selecting and implementing projects.

In Amtrak’s current plan for 2005–2009, the Washington, DC to Richmond corridor is one of the 12 corridors nationwide that is most ready for development. The corridor was placed in Amtrak’s second tier of development, primarily because the Commonwealth does not have a dedicated source of funding for operating expenses.

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