All Aboard for Bullet Trains
February 3, 2010 by Ashley Andrews · 22 Comments
That is right, America. Get ready to ride the bullet, state-of-the-art rail trains that is. So far, the Obama administration – not Congress, although a handout is expected – has forked over $8 Billion towards the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.
Planners speculate that America’s future rail system will replicate the French TGV, which runs 186 mph for Sunday drivers and 357 mph for lead foots.
Who gets what?
According to Wired, first in line for the transportation makeover is pet-state California. Texas and Florida will rekindle their rail plans, and big cities in the Midwest and the Northeast will soup-up their existing trains.
So what does this mean for the Old Dominion state?
The DRPT reports that, thanks to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Richmond and Washington, DC area have exactly $75 million to play with. The grant will go to improvements on the rail system that runs between Washington, DC and Richmond. Rail development within this corridor is a top priority for DRPT Director Thelma Drake.
“Virginia is strategically positioned at the junction of the Northeast and Southeast high speed rail corridors,” said Drake.
“Washington, DC to Richmond is the next step in expanding high-speed rail on the East Coast. We look forward to working with the FRA to quickly advance these rail improvements and bring high speed rail to Virginia as soon as possible,” Drake added.
But what about other Virginia loving travelers?
The Fight for Hampton Roads
Remember that $75 million? It was around the same time that officials also requested an additional $1.8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail development and a third track add-on from DC to Petersburg. Much to the dismay of Virginian politicians, their appeal was declined. Instead, the extra funds, which would have expanded the rail system from the Amtrak Northeast Corridor, were awarded to fellow states including Florida and North Carolina.
To many Hampton Roads travelers, this makes no sense. The Hampton Roads area is, after all, the 36th largest metropolitan region. Even Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim argues that the rail should curve around the Peninsula and run from Richmond to Norfolk.
“The importance of high-speed rail to the future growth and development of Hampton Roads cannot be overstated.” Currently, Fraim is petitioning to state leaders that Virginia’s rail plan includes Hampton Roads. Officials are also proposing that the rail end in Newport News, as currently Hampton Roads has one working rail that dead-ends at Newport News.
And the “I”s Want It
On January 28, 2010, more than 500 public officials, private citizens and local residents crammed into Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Terminal. Their mission: to unite on the issue of transportation.
Mike Barret, Chair of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HRED), believes that a high-speed rail will have a tremendous economic effect in Hampton Roads – $3 billion dollars and 30,000 jobs to be exact.
As Barret sees it, “Proximity equates to prosperity. We will see immediate return on investment from day one.” Hampton Roads native and CTB representative Aubrey Layne noted that this was one train “We don’t want to miss…”
Overall, the locals were unanimous – Hampton Roads needs a high-speed rail. A few, however, disagreed, saying that Maglev trains were a better option and that the rail should extend down into North Carolina.
At this point though, the majority seems willing to accept whatever train pulls in.
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