HRTPO Rail Subcommittee
Thelma Drake, Director
March 1, 2013
www.drpt.virginia.gov Passenger Rail Service In Virginia Present and Future
Amtrak VA –Lynchburg, Richmond/Norfolk Amtrak Regional – 2 Newport News, 2 Richmond Amtrak Long Distance – Cardinal, Crescent, Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star - All go into Northeast Corridor – same seat to Boston Auto Train
2 Virginia Regional Amtrak Passenger Service Projected Population Areas
3 4 Conventional Speed State Sponsored Train Service
Lynchburg Service 2009 Richmond Service 2010
Next Stop Roanoke!
Norfolk Service 2012
5 Newport News Station Study
Project Budget & Scope – $2 M RSTP • Alternatives Analysis • NEPA • Public Involvement • PE & Cost Estimates – $18 M CMAQ • Final Design & Construction Project Status – Kick-Off Meeting February 15, 2013 – Estimated Construction Completion by July 2017
6 State Rail Programs Industrial Access Railroad Tracks Fund - 1987 – Shares combined revenues of road, rail, and airport access fund – Gets trucks off of Virginia highways and supports economic development Rail Enhancement Fund - 2005 – Supports highway congestion relief through freight and joint benefit projects • Projects provide a public benefit • Dedicated revenue source Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund - 2006 – Preservation and development of shortline “last mile rail service” • Projects provide for the continuation of rail service in rural and low rail density areas Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund - 2011 – Supports Virginia funded intercity passenger rail service. • Lynchburg, Richmond, and Norfolk Service with 2013 PRIIA service requirements. • Needs dedicated revenue source.
7 Federal High Speed Rail Projects
8 8 Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Next Steps Complete Environmental and Design Track improvements on existing segments 1. Richmond, VA to Washington, DC 2. Petersburg, VA to Richmond, VA 3. Petersburg, VA to Norfolk, VA* 4. Petersburg to Raleigh, NC Subject to funding Coordinate with – FRA – Amtrak – Railroads – Local Governments – Property Owners
*Advancing under Hampton Roads EIS
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Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 PRIIA
PRIIA, federal law, changed America’s approach to intercity passenger rail development – High Speed Corridor Program is identified – Section 201 Defined Amtrak’s national system – Section 209 Defined the Role of the States and Amtrak to establish a consistent cost structure • Federal government transition to invest only in long distance routes of greater then 750 miles between endpoints and in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor • Operating costs for regional routes under 750 miles will transition to the states • Capital program funding identified with no operating funding to states to cover costs
10 Virginia Impact - Six Regional Trains October 2013 Virginia will continue to support the two state supported services operating today, Lynchburg and Norfolk service – A new pricing model will apply that increases cost to VA Virginia will begin to support four additional “legacy” regional trains operated today by Amtrak at no cost to VA – Two trains, Richmond to Washington, D.C. – Two trains, Newport News to Washington, D.C.
11 Governor’s Transportation Funding Bill
Rail
– Designated revenue source for IPROC ($54 million/year) – Operating funds for continued and expanded Intercity Passenger Rail Service – Capital funds for Intercity Passenger Rail Projects • Train Service to Roanoke • Trains 2 & 3 for Norfolk • Track Performance Improvement – Richmond to Newport News – Richmond to DC area
12 Amtrak Virginia – Norfolk Extension
• The extension of the Richmond-Washington service to Norfolk returned intercity passenger rail service to the city for the first time since 1977. • Links Norfolk with a same-seat ride to Richmond, Washington, DC, New York City and cities all along the Eastern Seaboard. • This service’s first month (only 19 days) of operation exceeded ridership goals by more than double.
13 Marketing Campaign
Will be introducing a revised campaign March 2013 The revised campaign is: – Educational – Features the train
14 Revised Marketing Campaign
15 Media Plan for remainder of FY2013 (March 2013 – June 2013)
Out of Home – Billboards in Norfolk, Richmond and Lynchburg Regions – Gas Pump Toppers in Norfolk Online – Facebook – Geo-targeted Google Adwords – Digital Display Banners
16 Media Plan for remainder of FY2013 (March 2013 – June 2013) Continued Print – Richmond Times Dispatch – Virginian Pilot – Flagship – Boomer Magazine – Virginia Tourism Guide – Arrive Magazine – Free Lance Star Radio – Traffic Tags in Norfolk, Richmond and Fredericksburg
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[email protected] www.drpt.virginia.gov 804-371-4866
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