2017 VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN Executive Summary Virginia’s rail network is a valuable asset that grows the economy, relieves congestion, saves lives, improves air quality and saves taxpayer money. Continued investment in rail infrastructure will ensure the mission and vision of the Commonwealth’s transportation network is achieved. CONTENTS 01 BENEFITS OF RAIL IN VIRGINIA 07 FUTURE OF RAIL IN VIRGINIA 09 VIRGINIA’S VISION FOR THE FUTURE 10 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 14 PRIORITY IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS BENEFITS OF RAIL IN VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA’S RAIL SYSTEMS Virginia’s rail network is have leveraged private and of rail service-related spending a valuable asset for the federal funds to improve in Virginia emanate from Commonwealth. It provides freight and passenger rail firms providing freight and an efficient means of moving transportation and support the passenger transport services, freight and passengers both overall transportation system. industries using such services within and through the Rail economic impacts to to trade goods (shippers/ state. The Commonwealth Virginia are estimated using receivers), and expenditures recognizes the privately multipliers from the IMPLAN® from visitors who reach Virginia owned rail network as part of a economic model with input via rail. Of these activities, multimodal system with public data and assumptions from freight-users generate the benefits and growing economic freight movement data, most significant impact. impacts. Since the 2000s, passenger rail operations, and significant state investments visitor characteristics. Impacts

$73 billion of output. 8.8% of Virginia’s total output

$19.8 billion earned by employees. 6.4% of the state’s total income

Over $30 billion of added value. 6.0% of the state’s Gross State Product (GSP)

341,519 jobs, 6.7% of the 5.1 million jobs statewide

$1.9 billion of tax revenue

Output – In terms of total revenue, consists of payments received by to 341,519 jobs, which represent the rail industry generated about self-employed individuals and 6.7 percent of the 5.1 million jobs $72.9 billion in output, which is 8.8 unincorporated business owners. statewide. percent of Virginia’s total output. Value Added – The combined value Tax Revenue – Federal, state Income – $19.8 billion earned by added impact of rail services is over and local tax revenues generated by these total employees represent $30 billion and represents 6.0 percent the rail industry totaled $1.9 billion. 6.4 percent of Virginia’s total labor of the state’s Gross State Product income. Labor income includes (GSP). employee compensation and proprietary income. Employee Employment – Economic impacts compensation, in turn, consists of of rail extend beyond the 6,762 wage and salary payments as well as directly employed in the provision benefits (health, retirement, etc.) and of rail transport (both passenger employer paid payroll taxes (employer and freight). When the freight and side of social security, unemployment visitor impact activities and multiplier taxes, etc.). Proprietary income impacts are included, rail-related employment in Virginia amounts

1 Investment in the rail network also has a direct benefit to Virginia’s highway system. By diverting freight and passenger traffic from road to rail, Virginia’s rail network helps by growing the economy, relieving congestion, saving lives, improving air quality, saving money, and complementing the Virginia highway network while reducing capital and maintenance expenditures.

RELIEVE CONGESTION $312M ANNUAL IN CONGESTION SAVINGS $123M ANNUAL PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE SAVINGS (6% OF VDOT MAINTENANCE BUDGET)

8 = 240 100 = 340 PASSENGER PASSENGER FREIGHT SEMI-TRAILER RAILCARS VEHICLES RAILCARS TRUCKS

$73 billion of output. 8.8% of Virginia’s total output TRAVEL SAFE 18 LIVES SAVED AND 3,000 CRASHES AVOIDED EACH YEAR

Shipping by rail avoids Passenger travel by rail avoids about about 1.7 billion miles 271 million miles of personal of truck travel in Virginia Over $30 billion of added value. 6.0% of the state’s Gross State Product (GSP) CO2 driving in Virginia

BREATHE EASIER 3M TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS AVOIDED (6.4% OF TOTAL IN VIRGINIA PER YEAR) $1.9 billion of tax revenue

On average, railroads Moving freight by rail instead The total estimated level are four times more fuel of truck generates 75% less of rail service in Virginia in efficient than trucks greenhouse gas emissions 2015 was about 25 billion ton-miles

SAVE MONEY RAIL SERVICES DRIVE 6% OF VIRGINIA’S TOTAL ECONOMY. MORE THAN 6,000 JOBS CREATED DIRECTLY BY RAIL NETWORK

$2.2 BILLION about 9 cents per FREIGHT RAIL in cost avoidance ton-mile of rail use

$190 MILLION about 46 cents per PASSENGER RAIL in cost avoidance passenger-mile of rail use

2 Virginia’s Rail Systems, continued

Virginia’s rail network is regions along the eastern facility in Front Royal – a critical link in a larger seaboard. This corridor and carries several Amtrak rail system within the also carries the majority of services into the Northeast. eastern United States; it Virginia’s Amtrak passenger • Norfolk Southern’s Heartland connects the state’s ports, services, and serves as the Corridor links Virginia’s Port businesses, and communities gateway to Washington, D.C. to Midwest markets, carrying to other major population for Virginia Railway Express intermodal containers from centers, customers, and commuter trains. the docks in Hampton Roads manufacturing regions • CSX’s National Gateway also to consumers in Chicago. throughout the nation uses the I-95 Corridor route • Amtrak services are shown and the world. Corridors through Virginia. This key rail within the Commonwealth on the map as light blue artery diverges from the I-95 shading along the privately have unique characteristics Corridor in Washington, D.C. that provide alternative owned freight corridors. to link the Port of Virginia Amtrak services operate over transportation options and and other mid-Atlantic ports diverse public benefits to the privately-owned railroads with cities and markets in the in Virginia. Virginia regional economy. Many of Virginia’s U.S. Midwest. freight corridors also carry service provides one-seat passenger trains. All of the • Norfolk Southern’s Crescent rides from Virginia’s major freight corridors are privately- Corridor runs from north cities to Washington, D.C. owned and serve the Port of to south, serving consumer and the Northeast Corridor, Virginia in Hampton Roads in markets and manufacturing while Amtrak long-distance some capacity. regions between New trains carry passengers Orleans, Memphis, and the through Virginia between the • CSX Transportation’s I-95 Northeast. In Virginia, the Northeast, Southeast, and Corridor spans the entire Crescent Corridor serves Midwest. Eastern U.S., linking cities, the Virginia Inland Port – an ports, and manufacturing intermodal container transfer

3 VIRGINIA IS A CRITICAL LINK IN THE NATIONAL RAIL NETWORK

4 PASSENGER ROUTES

Passenger trips to, from, and existing rail bottlenecks to from Washington, D.C. to within Virginia are growing better connect the entire Lynchburg and Roanoke. and highways in Virginia Southeast region with Passenger volumes on Virginia are increasingly congested. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. regional service totaled over Passenger rail service Since 2013 Virginia has 830,000 riders in FY2016. provides an alternative to provided dedicated funding When combined with long congested highways, and the to support and expand distance service, passenger Commonwealth therefore intercity passenger rail volumes exceeded 2.5 million invests in Amtrak intercity operations across the state. riders. Virginia also supports passenger routes, as well Virginia’s busiest passenger commuter rail operations as Virginia Railway Express rail routes parallel the provided by Virginia Railway commuter service to improve heavily traveled I-95 corridor, Express, which serves the mobility and meet the growing where a growing number heavily congested I-95 demand for travel. Projects of Virginia regional service Corridor from Fredericksburg and plans underway in CSXT’s trains serve Richmond, to Washington, D.C. as well RF&P subdivision and the Long Newport News, and Norfolk. as the I-66 Corridor between Bridge across the Potomac to Additional Virginia regional Manassas and Washington, Washington, D.C. will alleviate services extend southwest D.C.

5 FREIGHT ROUTES

As the economy grows, so intermodal rail corridors that goods, 120,000 carloads of do the freight demands on connect Virginia to the nation, chemical products, 103,000 Virginia’s highways. The providing a cost-effective way carloads of food products, and Commonwealth recognizes the to bring needed raw materials 85,000 carloads of pulp and public benefits and economic and products to our ports, paper products, keeping more impact of investments manufacturers, and consumers, than 5.5 million trucks off the in a multimodal freight and to carry Virginia-made Commonwealth’s highways. transportation system. The products and materials to Savings in pavement freight rail network has a destinations throughout the maintenance costs alone are unique role supporting the Port nation. In 2012, Virginia’s rail estimated to be over $123 of Virginia’s target markets network carried more than million per year, almost 6% of in the Midwest. Both CSX 800,000 carloads of coal, VDOT’s annual maintenance and Norfolk Southern have 534,000 carloads of mixed budget.

6 FUTURE OF RAIL IN VIRGINIA

FUTURE OF RAIL Virginia’s passenger and freight in coal traffic. Population drive advancements in the rail rail networks are affected by growth, an aging population, industry. The Commonwealth many external factors that and increasing highway addresses these drivers by drive demand for services. congestion along the investing in the rail network as Freight rail corridors serving “urban crescent” between part of a multimodal approach the Port of Virginia and the Washington and Hampton to meet the growing demand main north-south freight Roads is helping drive for freight and passenger routes are experiencing demand for environmentally transportation service and growth in intermodal traffic, friendly and safe alternatives support the economic changes while changes in domestic to automobile travel. and travel preferences of energy production and use Innovation and ever-evolving Virginians. are reflected in a decrease technologies will continue to

RAIL INDUSTRY DRIVERS

Growth in Changes in Congestion Environmental Technology Intermodal Energy Production: Traffic Oil, Gas and Coal

Changes in Amtrak Demographic Aging Northeast Changes Infrastructure Rail Governance Framework Corridor

7 FREIGHT

Expected Evolution of Major Freight Freight tonnage is Port of Virginia Markets expected to grow by 50% Shipments Growth in intermodal traffic in Virginia by 2040 TEUs anticipated to more will impact operational Movement by rail will increase by than triple from 2.1 M in approach to major freight 14%; additional rail investment 2012 to 7.2 M in 2040. corridors. Intermodal can enhance rail’s modal share Capacity to move 45% by movement relies on tight and keep additional freight from rail in 2040, up from timetables and high demand congested roadways. 35% today. for on-time performance.

NETWORK SIGNIFICANCE

The Washington, D.C. Vehicle use per road-mile Economic Growth metropolitan area has has been increasing Virginia’s rail network is a key the nation’s highest rate for decades. link between two mega-regions, of congestion. Since the mid-1960s Virginia has the Northeast mega-region and The Hampton Roads area also experienced a decline in relative the Piedmont Atlantic mega- experiences high levels capacity as both population and region to the south. Most of the of congestion. state gross domestic product (GSP) nation’s population growth and [Measuring Traffic Congestion in Virginia have steadily risen. economic expansion is occurring - Virginia Performs, Virginia.Gov] [Measuring Traffic Congestion in Virginia in ten emerging mega-regions. - Virginia Performs, Virginia.Gov] America2050 www.america2050.org

PASSENGER

Population concentrated Population is growing Increasing demand for in the urban crescent older – 1 in 8 Virginians public transportation Since 2010, the share of Virginia’s is 65 or older, Urban environments conducive to total population growth in the and the largest concentration of public transportation and changing urban crescent rose to 93 percent, Virginia’s aging population lives demographics create more reliance up from 81 percent between in the urban crescent. on multi-modal options. 2000 and 2006. Much of this [DC2RVA Purpose and Need] population growth is young professionals/Millennials.

8 VIRGINIA’S VISION FOR THE FUTURE

VTrans Vision Good for usiness, good for communities, and good to go. Goals State Rail Plan Vision Virginia’s rail networ is a valuale asset tat grows te economy, relieves congestion, saves lives, imroves air uality, and saves money. ontinued investment in rail infrastructure will ensure te mission Objectives and vision of te ommonwealt’s transortation networ is acieved.

Goals and oectives lin visions to rioritie investments in rail.

Virginia’s Statewide attracts a 21st century effective manner. DRPT is also Transportation Plan workforce, and promotes responsible for administering (Vtrans2040) provides a healthy communities where funds for rail investments and planning framework for Virginians of all ages and public transportation agency all transportation modes abilities can thrive. formula funds. in the state, including rail The Department of Rail The Virginia State Rail Plan and public transit. Virginia’s and Public Transportation recognizes Virginia’s vision and vision for its multimodal (DRPT) serves as Virginia’s DRPT’s mission and provides transportation system, lead agency for rail and a framework for achieving described in Vtrans2040, is to public transportation, with both of these desired future be “Good for Business, Good the mission to facilitate and outcomes through investments for Communities, and Good improve the mobility of in Virginia’s rail network as part to Go”. Virginians will benefit the citizens of Virginia and of a multimodal transportation from a sustainable and reliable to promote the efficient system supporting economic transportation system that transport of goods and people growth. advances Virginia businesses, in a safe, reliable, and cost-

9 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

RAIL PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The Virginia Rail Plan goals are The objectives show how Plan goals and objectives listed in blue and reflect the DRPT can advance freight are tools to evaluate and Vtrans2040 Guiding Principles. and passenger rail through prioritize short-term and Corresponding objectives for planning efforts and funding long-term planning efforts each goal are shown in tan on programs under DRPT’s and investments. the right. purview. Together the Rail

OBJECTIVES:

Leverage previous investments by Target growing markets and make supporting existing passenger services efficient use of the Rail Industrial Access Program funds • Enhance reliability for existing services

• Prioritize improvements to existing Leverage public-private partnerships GOAL: service corridors over service by prioritizing proects with expansion capital proects Optimize matching funds Return on Investments Target investment where traffic, Prioritize capacity investments that employment, population, or meet the needs of both the public demand is expected to grow and private sectors through mlement te enhanced data sharing rigt solution at te rigt rice Determine on a corridor-basis when rail is the most efficient mode to move people and goods

OBJECTIVES:

Expand programs that support Invest in materials and industry shortline railroads in maintaining practices that support a resilient FRA Class 2 track safety standards rail network GOAL: Ensure Safety, Security, and Resiliency

nvest in roects tat arness te Prioritize critical Support “State of Good safety enefits of infrastructure proects to Repair” proects moving eole and reduce the risk of failure goods y rail

10 OBJECTIVES:

Update grant guidance annually and develop a grantee workshop to review program guidance and procedural updates

GOAL: Efficiently Deliver Proactively identify proects Programs and programs to support the DRPT mission

eliver ig-uality Work with legislators and roects and appointed officials to ensure policies are up-to-date rograms in a and understood cost-effective and timely manner Continually update DRPT grant management practices to ensure efficient administrative processes and proect implementation

OBJECTIVES:

Encourage use of Intelligent Transportation Systems to improve operational efficiency GOAL: Consider Operational Improvements and Demand Evaluate operations when Management First considering investment in capacity to ensure the investment yields a aimie lasting benefit caacity of te transortation networ troug increased use of tecnology and oerational Incorporate program criteria that imrovements efore prioritize low-cost improvements to relieve bottlenecks and investing in maor provide capacity caacity eansions

11 OBJECTIVES:

Publicize application evaluation metrics and proect data for rail funding programs GOAL: Ensure Transparency and Accountability, Implement passenger rail and Promote station stop policy Performance Management

or oenly wit Develop program scorecards to measure impact of artners and engage rail investments staeolders in roect develoment and imlementation, and estalis erformance targets tat consider Market economic impact te needs of all of rail investment communities

OBJECTIVES:

Encourage local governments to support state funding decisions by making compatible investments and zoning GOAL: Improve Coordination Educate localities on appropriate land uses around both freight and between passenger rail infrastructure Transportation and Land Use

ncourage local Encourage local governments to governments to lan support rail services with and manage multimodal last-mile connections transortation- efficient land develoment y roviding incentives, Integrate with and expand tecnical suort, upon other state, regional, and and collaorative local planning efforts initiatives

12 OBJECTIVES:

Prioritize rail proects that benefit the highway system and improve mode choice GOAL: Ensure Efficient Enhance rail service Intermodal to the Port Connections

Provide seamless connections Support ” State of Good Repair” etween modes and capacity proects with of transortation shortlines

OBJECTIVES:

Work closely with Virginia Economic Development Partnership to attract rail conducive industries in accordance with the Code of Virginia GOAL: Support Promote the use of the Rail Regional Industrial Access program Economic through education and outreach with local economic Development development offices

Include input from local and regional freight railroads in economic development planning ncourage local and and initiatives regional economic develoment troug investment Expand transportation options in te rail networ between regional markets through enhancements to passenger rail service

13 PRIORITY IMPROVEMENTS & INVESTMENTS

This statewide map depicts a comprehensive, visionary illustration of the future of rail in Virginia. Details about each corridor, including programmed and potential projects, are included in the body of the plan.

The Commonwealth’s investment priorities have been summarized by corridor in the following pages. Each corridor fact sheet is designed to correspond with the Corridors of Statewide Significance, as outlined in VTrans; and provides:

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS Describes the major elements, Overviews the unique characteristics Outlines some of the major geography and services of the and purpose the corridor provides initiatives that are on-going and corridor. within the greater transportation expected for the future in network. the corridor.

Additionally, each fact sheet provides a link to the Key Goals and Top Drivers in the corridor. Due to the significance of each corridor within the multimodal transportation network, all of the rail plan goals and TOP KEY drivers influence decision making within each corridor. DRIVERS GOALS However, the goals and drivers that have the strongest correlation to the corridor characteristics, needs, and influences have been highlighted.

14 To Oio WASHINGTON TO NORTH To Ne or CAROLINA CORRIDOR asinton C • CSX owned/operated • Intermodal freight service • Primary north-south route for Amtrak long-distance service Carlottesville

Ricmond

Roanoe Lyncur

Neport Nes Cristiansur Norfol

ristol

Freight Routes

To Ralei To acsonville Passenger Routes Potential Passenger Routes

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE Virginia’s Washington to North The Washington to North Carolina options to both the residents and Carolina Corridor is served by Corridor is the most heavily used businesses along this dense and two CSX rail corridors: CSX’s I-95 corridor in Virginia, with increasing thriving corridor. The passenger Corridor between New York and freight, regional and long distance rail, commuter rail, and intermodal Jacksonville, and CSX’s National passenger rail, and commuter rail freight services that use this Gateway Corridor linking mid- services. The corridor provides corridor, including shipments Atlantic ports with the Midwest. a critical link between Amtrak’s serving the Port of Virginia, require The two rail corridors share one Northeast Corridor and the federally high on-time performance. alignment that parallels I-95 designated Southeast Corridor. The from Washington, D.C., through corridor also provides another rail Richmond to Petersburg and the link between the Port of Virginia PROJECTS south. This corridor also serves and the Midwest, which previous Priority projects include adding as a primary passenger rail route. Commonwealth investments have capacity to the Long Bridge, a major Virginia regional trains connecting helped to clear for double-stack chokepoint affecting CSX, Amtrak, the Northeast Corridor and container service. The corridor has and VRE service, and implementing Washington, D.C. operate on the the most severe bottlenecks on additional capacity improvements to line to reach terminals in Richmond, the freight rail network, specifically the corridor in Northern Virginia via Newport News, and Norfolk, while across the Potomac River, where a the Atlantic Gateway improvement Amtrak long-distance trains from four track system merges to just two program. New York and Lorton, Virginia, tracks (the Long Bridge) to cross Longer term, additional continue farther south to Savannah, from Virginia into Washington, D.C. improvements will be necessary to Sanford, Florida, and Miami. VRE Similarly, the parallel highway support improved passenger service. Fredericksburg Line commuter facilities, I-95 and US 1, are the These improvements are outlined in trains also use the corridor from most heavily used highway facilities the R2R study, and in the DC2RVA Spotsylvania County north to with the most severe congestion Tier 2 EIS that is currently underway. Washington, joined at Alexandria by in Virginia. As a result, capacity on The long term phasing and timing Manassas Line commuter trains. the Washington to North Carolina of these improvements will be based Corridor must be preserved and on funding availability, congestion improved in order to provide levels, and passenger service adequate access and multimodal benefits.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Consider Ensure Optimize Return Operational Congestion Demographic Amtrak Efficient Technology on Investments Improvements Intermodal Changes Northeast and Demand Connections Corridor Management First

15 CRESCENT CORRIDOR • Norfolk Southern owned/operated • Intermodal freight service • Amtrak long distance and regional service • Potential passenger routes

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS The 2,500-mile Crescent Corridor The Crescent Corridor makes Priority projects include expanded spans 11 states, from New York several vital connections to Virginia passenger service to Lynchburg and to Louisiana and Tennessee. In shortline railroads, including the Roanoke, and improving capacity Virginia it includes Norfolk Southern Winchester & Western, Chesapeake and connectivity with shortline track parallel to I-81 (Winchester- Western, Buckingham Branch, and railroads and the Virginia Inland Roanoke-Bristol) and a second route Shenandoah Valley railroads. In Port. Longer term considerations parallel to U.S. 29 (Front Royal- addition, the corridor connects to for this corridor include adding Manassas-Lynchburg-Danville). the Virginia Inland Port. Maintaining passenger service to southwest a seamless connection between this Virginia. The Crescent Corridor is a primary mainline freight route and these freight route for intermodal traffic critical elements of the regional moving through Virginia. The freight network is vital to the corridor also carries both Amtrak success of this corridor and regional long distance trains (Crescent and economic development. Norfolk Cardinal) and Virginia regional Southern estimates the Crescent passenger service connecting Corridor keeps 1.3 million long Roanoke, Lynchburg, and distance trucks off the highways. Charlottesville to Washington, D.C. and the Northeast Corridor. The corridor connects to Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor in Roanoke and Altavista.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Improve Congestion Demographic Amtrak Optimize Return Coordination Support Regional between Changes Northeast on Investments Economic Transportation Development Corridor and Land Use

16 EAST-WEST CORRIDOR • CSX and Buckingham Branch owned/operated • Primary coal route • Passenger connection to Newport News

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS The East-West Corridor parallels The East-West Corridor serves Priority projects include maintaining I-64 from Hampton Roads through primarily as a coal route, however, a state of good repair, particularly Richmond to Clifton Forge. It serves coal traffic has significantly dropped on the Buckingham Branch railroad, as CSX’s primary coal route from in response to recent changes in and supporting existing passenger Appalachian coalfields to U.S. power energy trends and a decline in services. This includes investments plants and export terminals in demand for Appalachian coal. As a to add a new maintenance facility Newport News. Loaded coal trains result, one of the primary drivers of and improvements to reduce travel east on CSX’s James River line, investment is to maintain operability conflicts between passenger trains while empty trains return on the of the multiple passenger and freight trains on the corridor Buckingham Branch. rail services. between Richmond and Newport News. Longer term The corridor handles Virginia considerations include expansion of regional passenger service from east-west passenger connections. Newport News, ultimately making connections to Washington, D.C. and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Additionally, the Buckingham Branch carries the Amtrak long distance Cardinal route with connections to the Midwest and NEC.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Improve Ensure Transparency Changes in Amtrak Aging Technology Ensure Safety, Coordination and Accountability, Support Regional between Energy Northeast Infrastructure Security and and Promote Economic Resiliency Transportation Performance Development Production Corridor and Land Use Management

17 HEARTLAND CORRIDOR • Norfolk Southern owned/operated • Intermodal freight service • Passenger connection to Norfolk

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS The Heartland Corridor is a primary Through significant previous Priority improvements include freight route for intermodal traffic investment, the corridor is cleared adding two additional round-trip traveling between the Port of for double-stack container service passenger trains to Norfolk by Virginia terminals in Norfolk and from the Port, through Virginia, to extending two existing trains from midwestern markets, including Chicago. Tight timetables and high Richmond. Longer term initiatives Columbus and Chicago. The demand for on-time performance include the study of additional and/ Heartland Corridor also carries are critical needs to adequately or higher speed passenger services Virginia regional passenger trains serve intermodal customers. It is to Hampton Roads and making between Norfolk and Petersburg, critical to eliminate any congestion critical east-west multimodal as well as a new service extension points, particularly conflicts with connections. between Lynchburg and Roanoke. passenger services, on this dense Both services ultimately connect to intermodal corridor. Washington, D.C. and the Northeast

Corridor. The Heartland Corridor Opti connects to the Crescent Corridor on I in Roanoke and Altavista.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Improve Ensure Growth in Changes in Environmental Ensure Safety, Coordination Support Regional Security and between Efficient Economic Intermodal Intermodal Energy Resiliency Transportation Development Traffic Production and Land Use Connections

18

PORT OF VIRGINIA • 6 terminals • 30 miles of on-dock rail • 55 foot deep channel

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS The Port of Virginia is the 5th largest The Port is one of the most significant Priority projects includes multiple container port in the nation. Port drivers of freight rail traffic in the terminal expansions, including VIG, facilities include 4 deepwater marine Commonwealth. Due to changes VIP, and NIT, with additional rail terminals (Hampton Roads), an in energy demand and production, capacity, and ensuring shortline and upriver terminal (Richmond) and an intermodal traffic is the most switch operators outside the Port inland intermodal terminal (Front dominant growth sector in freight gates have the needed capacity to Royal). The Port is served by more rail traffic, and the Port is well poised handle the additional growth in than 30 international shipping lines, to contribute heavily to that growth rail traffic. serving more than 200 countries. market. Ensuring efficient loading and unloading of trains, and last mile Additional priority projects include More than 33% of the Port’s freight connectivity to the freight rail network expanding the inland port at Front arrives and departs by rail, carried are vital to ensuring that business at Royal and improving rail infrastructure, by NS, CSX, and two shortlines, the the Port continues to run smoothly including grade crossings on tracks Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line and and drive the Virginia economy serving the Ports. the Commonwealth Railway. forward. The Port primarily ships to customers in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia via truck, and to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, and beyond via Norfolk Southern and CSX.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Ensure Transparency Ensure and Accountability, Support Regional Growth in Efficient Congestion Environmental Technology and Promote Intermodal Economic Intermodal Performance Connections Development Traffic Management

19 SHORTLINE ROUTES IN VIRGINIA • 9 shortlines in Virginia • Important first/last mile connection for freight

BACKGROUND SIGNIFICANCE PROJECTS Virginia’s shortline railroads operate Shortlines provide a critical link to Priority projects include improving at the regional and local level to local and regional customers, as track to FRA Class 2 safety connect individual customers to the well as the Port, loading, unloading, standards; improving signal systems larger freight rail network and make and building trains that eventually and technology for more efficient last mile connections to the Port of traverse the national rail network operations; and upgrading bridges Virginia. Shortline railroads often through Class I freight service. Many and track to accommodate heavier serve as either the point of origin or of the shortlines inherited track railcars that have become the termination for freight carried in and with years of deferred maintenance, industry standard. Longer term out of Virginia by Norfolk Southern requiring additional resources to priority projects includes critical maintain a state of good repair. or CSX. infrastructure rehabilitation such Shortlines are better positioned to as bridges and tunnels, which, Virginia supports shortlines through accommodate smaller businesses if allowed to fail, would create the Rail Preservation Program, which with lower traffic volumes. Virginia significant safety hazards and may funds both capacity and state of supports shortlines as both a make the entire rail line inoperable. good repair projects. partner in economic development opportunities at the port facilities and in rural areas, and as a means to divert trucks from congested highways.

TOP DRIVERS KEY GOALS

Improve Ensure Safety, Coordination Support Regional Changes in Aging Changes in Technology Security and between Economic Energy Resiliency Transportation Development Infrastructure Rail Governance and Land Use Production Framework

20 VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN

VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN The 2017 Virginia State Rail and infrastructure across the and Improvement Act of Plan was developed by the Commonwealth. This State Rail 2008, as amended by the Virginia Department of Rail and Plan guides Virginia’s vision for Fixing America’s Surface Public Transportation (DRPT) railroad transportation to the Transportation Act of 2015. In under the guidance of the horizon year of 2040, and lists addition, this State Rail Plan Commonwealth Transportation strategies to achieve also meets the requirements Board (CTB) Rail Committee that vision. of the State Rail Plan Guidance to address changes in the provided by the Federal rail industry and prioritize The State Rail Plan meets the Railroad Administration (FRA) Virginia’s investments in freight federal requirements of the in September 2013. and passenger rail services Passenger Rail Investment

CHAPTER INDEX 01 04 THE ROLE OF RAIL IN PROPOSED FREIGHT RAIL STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENT Chapter one introduces you to the role and importance The information in chapter four describes the recent of rail in the Commonwealth’s transportation network. improvements and investments that have been made, From a farm-to-market transportation system to an and potential future investments, by the state’s freight evolving system supporting a thriving economy and the railroads and the Commonwealth. Port of Virginia, rail has helped Virginia grow and prosper. 02 05 THE STATE’S EXISTING RAIL SYSTEM THE STATE’S RAIL SERVICE AND Chapter two provides an overview and inventory of INVESTMENT PROGRAM Virginia’s existing rail system and services, and identifies Chapter five prioritizes short and long range the economic, demographic, and transportation investments for the Commonwealth. demand forecasts and trends that will affect future demand for passenger and freight rail service in the state.

03 06 PROPOSED PASSENGER RAIL COORDINATION AND REVIEW IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS This chapter describes how the DRPT involved This chapter introduces projects and initiatives that will stakeholders in the coordination necessary to develop enhance Virginia’s passenger and commuter rail services the rail plan. to better serve the mobility needs of the state and region.

21 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION DISTRICTS 1. Bristol 6. Fredericksburg 7 2. Salem 7. Culpeper 9 3. Lynchburg 8. Staunton 4. Richmond 9. Northern Virginia 5. Hampton Roads 8 6

2 1

3 4 5

ECONOMIC ANALYSES This report evaluates freight flows within Virginia by county and corridor. The estimation of volumes by location of shippers and receivers is intended to inform local and state discussions about the opportunities and constraints in the existing rail and road transportation network. The report includes: Freight Demand Baseline Analysis, Freight Forecast, and a Regional Economic Analysis of Expanded Freight Demand. County-level results are aggregated and reported by Transportation District.

22 Department of Rail & Public Transportation www.drpt.virginia.gov 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102 Richmond, VA 23219 Public Affairs and Media Inquiries (804) 786-4440 [email protected]