Wednesday, September 5, 2012

High speed rail comes one step closer to reality and not a second too late


Virginia and federal officials recently issued the final environmental impact statements (EIS) for routes connecting Richmond to Hampton Roads and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor[1], bringing the dream of high-speed rail travel in Virginia one step closer to reality.

According to the officials, the new routes identified could travel from 90 to 110 miles per hour from Norfolk through Petersburg to Richmond. The new route would also uphold Amtrak’s current service from Newport News through Williamsburg to Richmond.

Each route would link up to the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor in Richmond, giving riders the ability to travel north to Washington, D.C. and south to Charlotte, North Carolina.

As Virginia’s population has grown, transportation solutions in the commonwealth have become all the more pressing.[2] Anyone who has to drive on I-95 during the work week during peak hours can easily understand the need to confront transportation issues in Virginia.

Not only has Virginia’s population been growing, it’s been growing in particular areas of the state, namely metropolitan areas like Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Fairfax.[3] As a consequence, anyone who has to drive through these areas for work or leisure often run into congestion for miles.

High speed rail couldn’t come at a better time, in other words. In order for Virginia to clear the roads of privately owned vehicles, it will need to continue to undertake viable public transportation solutions.

While Virginia’s systems of public transportation grow, let’s hope that Virginia’s politicians grow alongside it to keep this process from stalling due to partisan bickering.

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