Virginia
Is it time for Virginia’s rail renaissance?
ASHLAND, Va. (WRIC) — On June 7, native authorities representatives and Amtrak officers gathered on the prepare platform in downtown Ashland, Virginia to unveil the outcomes of a $58 million venture spanning 16 stations throughout the USA.
The aim of the venture – which is able to cowl a complete of 57 stations and value $126 million – is to enhance security and accessibility. The Ashland station alone, officers mentioned, serves 30,000 folks a yr, and enhancements there spanned a whole block of the city, with new crosswalks, altered site visitors patterns and a renovated platform, all designed to advertise pedestrian security.
“We’re making these sorts of investments throughout our nationwide community,” Amtrak Vice President Dr. David Handera mentioned. “We would like Ashland and all of our stations to be welcoming and a snug surroundings to all of our prospects.”
The upgrades in Ashland come as new rail investments are being made throughout the commonwealth. In Chesterfield County, the city of Ettrick acquired an identical improve, together with “substantial enhancements to the passenger expertise together with enhancements to the station constructing, parking, and lighting.”
That renovation price a complete of $10.6 million, based on the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, with $6.4 million offered by a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
“Your prepare station is the entrance door to your neighborhood,” mentioned Thomas Stennis III, an Amtrak official.
The FRA has put aside $58 million to enhance stations between Richmond and Raleigh, the place the state is planning to construct a high-speed rail hall, a primary for the South.
That hall, together with a brand new rail service between Richmond and Washington, DC, was part of a $3.7 billion funding by former governor Ralph Northam.
However at the same time as Amtrak and Virginia give attention to new initiatives, native leaders are making efforts to protect the outdated. On the unveiling of Ashland’s new station, Mayor Steve Trivett mentioned they integrated bricks from the outdated station into the brand new design to supply a way of continuity, “It completed so properly that the outdated and the brand new mix completely collectively.”
Virginia
PHOTOS: Hill of Heroes Day at Virginia War Memorial
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The 6th annual Hill of Heroes Day was held at the Virginia War Memorial on Saturday to honor service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
On Saturday, June 29, the 6th annual Hill of Heroes Day was held at the Virginia War Memorial and featured 12,000 flags honoring Virginians who have lost their lives in battle since World War II.
The event also hosted activities such as demonstrations by military working dogs, crafts and a book sale.
Continue scrolling to view the celebrations held at the Hill of Heroes Day event to honor all American service members.
Virginia
Virginia cattle farmers pivot to deal with hot, dry weather
MONTVALE, Va. (WFXR) — Hot, dry weather is having an impact on livestock farmers in the Roanoke and Lynchburg regions.
“We base on pasture management and grazing cattle 300 days out of the year,” said Johnny Divers of Chapel Creek Farms near Montvale. “Weather is one thing we can not control.”
Farmers like Divers have had to pivot to work around the problems dry pastures can create. In Divers’ case, that means rotating herds from pasture to pasture, and leaving some fields uncut or untouched. In addition, Divers says preparations and actions taken in the spring, like limiting the number of cattle in certain pastures, are paying off now.
“We don’t overstock our pastures for this reason,” Divers said. “If you overstock in early spring, you can pretty much guarantee yourself that you will run out of pasture in the summertime if you go into any sort of a drought.”
Divers also says keeping some fields untouched helps the soil in those pastures to retain moisture. That will extend their life and keep them viable for grazing later in the summer.
Pastures are just one concern. Herd hydration is another. Divers says each head of cattle can drink up to 40 gallons of water a day. He always makes sure his herds have two water sources wherever they are pastured.
Virginia
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