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Wanted: Rail, Statewide |
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by Nancy Finch
Some Virginia farmers couldn't get their grain to market last fall because of a shortage of freight cars.
And why is there a shortage of freight cars? Because rail freight business is booming. In 2004, Virginia's Norfolk Southern reported its best shipping year in history.
Growth in shipping in Virginia is expected to swell even more as the ports of Hampton Roads continue their expanding role in the global economy.
Charlottesville has organized a "bring rail here"movement complete with its own Web site. Charlottesville Citizens for Better Rail Alternatives has support from elected leaders, students and citizens who want frequent and reliable rail access to Washington. They are practically begging the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), the highly successful Northern Virginia passenger rail service, to come to Charlottesville.
The Roanoke Valley is proposed to become the location of intermodal facilities to serve the Heartland Corridor, a rail intermodal route planned from Virginia's ports to the Midwest when funding becomes available.
Southwest Virginians are looking forward to the initiation of the TransDominion Express that will provide rail service between Bristol, Richmond and Washington, D.C. The rail cars have already been ordered and planning is underway.
Colin Campbell, chief executive officer of Colonial Williamsburg, worries about the additional traffic on I-64 that the 2007 celebration will bring.
"It could—and should—be a big boost to Virginia and thus to the economy of all areas of the Commonwealth "IF we can get the visitors here," Campbell said. "We hope to have up to an additional one million guests in 2007 alone, but it will prove bitterly disappointing to all concerned if people cannot get here from there.. . .For too long we have ignored the need to have an efficient, reliable rail system in our country."
Many residents of Richmond who work or do business in Washington, D.C. would like to make day trips to the nation's capital but, as one attorney said, "We've given up. We can't count on a reliable return trip to Richmond. We just have to spend the night in Washington and bill the client."
Area I-81 residents also are in a quandary. Some have stopped traveling on I-81. The truck-packed road, the speed and the accidents have led many to abandon traveling within their area on the heavily congested interstate. They use old Route 11. They want relief so they can use I-81. They want the trucks off and onto rail and they want to preserve their beautiful scenic highway.
Northern Virginia's VRE is adding cars to keep up with commuter demand, but parking for users is inadequate thus potential users, at least at this time, are out of luck.
Commuters who choose rail over the congested Northern Virginia roads have shown if rail is available and reliable, they will use it. VRE is now, according to Chief Executive Officer Dale Zehner, more reliable than travel by automobile.
And Virginia's heavy military presence? Rear Admiral David Architzel, three years ago, shortly after 9/11, said Hampton Roads to Washington, D.C. is the "number one Navy passenger travel corridor." Admiral Architzel, then commander of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U. S. Navy, estimated that rail could take 27,000 cars off that corridor. "High speed rail (could) bring advantages to the Hampton Roads military," he said.
Rail has never enjoyed as much demand by both passengers and freight shippers as right now. And the demand continues to grow from nearly all parts of Virginia.
The fact that Virginia's first State Rail Plan was determined to be necessary and was prepared by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation in 2004 indicates the growth in interest and demand for rail. "Rail is a critical part of the overall multimodal transportation system for moving people and goods to, from, within, and through Virginia," the plan stated.
Examples throughout the Commonwealth prove rail is a necessary part of a multi-modal solution. Realistic funding is critical for the implementation of this state's rail vision and continuous economic growth.
Overall transportation funding has become a critical issue in Virginia, and the problem will only increase if long-term multi-modal solutions are not determined soon. We truly recognize It's Time...
Nancy Finch is executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail and a steering committee coordinator for Virginians for Better Transportation (VBT).
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