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same time as Amtrak and Virginia give attention to new initiatives, native leaders are making efforts to protect the outdated. On the unveiling of Ashland’s new station, Mayor Steve Trivett mentioned they integrated bricks from the outdated station into the brand new design to supply a way of continuity, “It completed so properly that the outdated and the brand new mix completely collectively.”