RICHMOND, Va., August 19, 2010- The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) today announced that the Commonwealth has submitted new applications for funding from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to advance development of the I-95 Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor. 

Two applications for a total of approximately $57 million would support infrastructure improvements and advance federal high speed rail planning along the Petersburg to Washington, D.C. section of the corridor.

“High speed rail will provide significant benefits for one of the Commonwealth’s most congested travel corridors, promoting tourism, job growth and economic development,” said DRPT Director Thelma Drake. “The I-95 rail corridor in Virginia is our top priority because it connects the Northeast and Southeast rail corridors. The Washington, DC to Petersburg segment is the next logical extension of high speed rail service on the East Coast.”

The Appomattox River Bridge application includes preliminary engineering for construction of a new rail bridge across the Appomattox River in Chesterfield County and the City of Petersburg at a total cost of $1.5 million, and the Richmond Area-Washington, DC Tier II EIS application would complete the next phase of federal project planning for high speed rail between Richmond and Washington, DC at a total cost of $55.4 million. The applications are available online at www.drpt.virginia.gov.

Both projects will significantly advance two federal high speed rail initiatives in Virginia- the Southeast High Speed Rail Project and the Richmond/Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project, in addition to increasing rail capacity in the corridor.

DRPT worked together with rail operators in this corridor, including Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Virginia Railway Express, to complete the applications. Virginia’s Congressional delegation, local and regional governments, and business leaders have also offered strong support for the Commonwealth’s applications.

About Virginia’s Federal High Speed Rail Applications

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $8 billion for the first round of high speed rail projects across the country, of which the Commonwealth received $75 million for the Arkendale to Powell’s Creek project along the I-95 High Speed Rail Corridor in January 2010. The project includes construction of 11.4 miles of third track in Stafford and Prince William Counties.

The current round of applications solicited by the Federal Railroad Administration is for approximately $2.5 billion in federal funds provided through the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Each application requires a minimum 20 percent match. The Commonwealth’s applications were developed based on the highest priority rail corridor needs and the amount of available matching funds. The Appomattox River Bridge project received $300,000 in matching funds from host railroad CSX Transportation, and the Richmond Area-Washington, DC application includes $8.101 million in matching funds from state rail funds and $2.976 million in matching funds from host railroad CSX Transportation.