Get On Board! Welcome! Thank you for a ending! This public informa on mee ng is being held to provide an update and an opportunity to comment on DC2RVA s: Purpose and Need Statement Alterna ves Development Process Range of Rail Alignment Op ons Screening Process to Narrow the Range of Op ons Today s mee ng informa on is also available online at: www.dc2rvarail.com/online-mee ng
The Project The Washington, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail project: Is the northernmost segment Michigan New York Boston Rhode of the Southeast High Speed Island Pennsylvania New Rail (SEHSR) corridor. Ohio York New Jersey City West Virginia Delaware Aims to improve travel me, Washington, D.C. Maryland Kentucky service frequency, and Richmond Virginia Hampton Roads on- me performance of Tennessee Raleigh North SEHSR Carolina Corridor intercity passenger trains. South Carolina Atlanta Columbia Includes rail infrastructure Georgia improvements and Jacksonville passenger service upgrades. Florida Southeast High Speed Passenger Rail Studies Tampa Orlando Miami Southeast Corridor Washington, D.C. to Richmond Tier II EIS - Underway Richmond to Raleigh Tier II EIS - Underway Richmond to Hampton Roads Tier I EIS - Complete Tier II EIS - Underway Northeast Corridor Washington, D.C. Tier I EIS - Complete to Atlanta Tier I EIS - Underway SEHSR Extended Feasibility Studies Complete
Tier II Environmental Impact Statement The Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will: Summarize and update issues considered in the 2002 Tier I EIS. Focus on site-specific improvement elements of the corridor. Evaluate and determine specific alignments and service op ons. Establish sta on stops. Incorporate further public/agency input and discussions. Quan fy impacts and analyze poten al mi ga on measures. Tier II Documenta on and Decisions Permi ng, Final Design, Right-of-way Acquisi on, and Construc on Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transporta on (DRPT) Project Sponsor Federal Railroad Administra on (FRA) Lead Federal Agency
Project Study Area The project is designed to improve intercity passenger rail service between Washington, D.C. and Richmond. Northern Terminus -- Potomac River in Arlington, VA Southern Terminus -- Centralia, VA in Chesterfield County Approximately 123-mile segment along I-95 corridor Shared freight rail and passenger rail corridor CSX owns the track and provides freight service Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides commuter rail service Fredericksburg Woodbridge Arlington Alexandria Project Corridor State Line County Line Interstate Roadways Ashland Centralia
Improved Intercity Passenger Rail Once implemented, the project will result in: DECREASED Travel Time INCREASED INCREASED MORE COMPETITIVE Travel INCREASED INCREASED IMPROVED IMPROVED INCREASED
What We Heard From You During Scoping Your input, combined with informa on from previous studies and the Purpose and Need Statement, has shaped the process we will use to screen alterna ves. Common themes you commented on: Support for improved intercity passenger service. A desire for speeds higher than the project s proposed speeds. Interest in a greenway along the corridor. Concerns about cost and impacts. Support for improved connec vity within the Commonwealth. In addi on to these popular topics, the project team received many comments regarding site-specific issues and sugges ons.
Considera ons for Purpose and Need 2002 SEHSR Tier I EIS Purpose and Need choices. Improve safety and Reduce air emissions per passenger mile. Connect the SEHSR and Northeast Corridors Address the "missing link" in infrastructure and service between the Northeast corridor and planned improvements to the SEHSR corridors. Improve choices. Increase return on investment for Reduce environmental impacts. intercity passenger rail Acccomodate commuter rail system. shared freight/ passenger rail system. Improve the safety passenger and freight Richmond.
Project Purpose The project will provide mul ple benefits to the traveling public and the Commonwealth of Virginia, including: Improving the frequency, reliability, and travel me of intercity passenger rail opera on in Virginia and beyond. Increasing the capacity of the shared freight-passenger rail system, including VRE commuter rail. Improving modal connec vity with other public transporta on systems. Improving passenger and freight rail safety. Improving air quality.
Project Need Current condi ons experienced in the project corridor support the 2002 Tier I EIS Purpose & Need and are the founda on for the project today. Infrastructure At or Near Capacity Reduce Emissions Improve Air Quality
Exis ng Rail Traffic Washington D.C. to Alexandria Total Trains: 87 Amtrak: 23 VRE: 32 CSX: 30 Norfolk Southern: 2 VIRGINIA Alexandria to Fredericksburg/Crossroads Total Trains: 66 95 MARYLAND Amtrak: 20 VRE: 16 CSX: 30 Norfolk Southern: 0 Fredericksburg/Crossroads to Acca Yard Total Trains: 50 95 Project Area Washington D.C. to Alexandria Segment Alexandria to Fredericksburg/ Crossroads Segment Fredericksburg/ Crossroads to Acca Yard Segment Acca Yard to Richmond Segment Richmond to Centralia S-Line Segment Acca Yard to Centralia A-Line Segment State Line Roadways Amtrak: 20 VRE: 0 CSX: 30 Norfolk Southern: 0 Acca Yard to Richmond Total Trains: 14 Amtrak: 4 VRE: 0 CSX: 10 Norfolk Southern: 0 Richmond to Centralia S-Line Total Trains: 10 Amtrak: 0 VRE: 0 CSX: 10 Norfolk Southern: 0 Acca Yard to Centralia A-Line Total Trains: 37 Amtrak: 12 VRE: 0 CSX: 25 Norfolk Southern: 0
Service Goals Intercity Passenger Train Frequencies 2015 Future Amtrak Long-Distance (ATK LD) State-supported Amtrak Regional Service, Virginia (ATK REG VA) State-supported Amtrak Regional Service, North Carolina (ATK REG NC) Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) City also served by VRE commuter trains Changes from 2015 8 new SEHSR round trips 4 to NC 3 to Norfolk 1 to Newport News 1 new Regional round trip to Lynchburg via Norfolk Southern
Preliminary Rail Alignment Op ons Rail alignment op ons under considera on to add addi onal track include: Minor Improvements Op on Exis ng two tracks No addi onal City capacity Exis ng ROW Unconstrained Alignment Op on Three-track design 90 mph City Follows corridor but can go outside exis ng railroad right-of-way (ROW) Exis ng ROW Unconstrained Alignment Constrained Alignment Op on Three-track design Maximize speed up City to 90 mph reached in some segments Within exis ng railroad ROW constraints Exis ng ROW Constrained Alignment West/East Track Alignment Op on One-track design Add to west/east side City of exis ng main-line Match current main-line speed May go outside ROW Exis ng ROW West Alignment
Rail Alignment Screening Process Improvement Example Federal or state wildlife/waterfowl refuges Military bases Agricultural/forestal districts Cemeteries New rail bridges
The primary issues being addressed are: Mul ple exis ng alignments Sta on loca on(s) Congested rail opera ons Area Op ons, Richmond Richmond Area Sta on Op ons Exis ng Main Street only Exis ng Staples Mill Road only New Boulevard/Broad Street only Main Street and Staples Mill Road Main Street and Boulevard/Broad Street Boulevard/Broad Street and Staples Mill Road
Area Op ons, Ashland The primary issues being addressed are: Increase capacity Reduce travel mes Surrounding land use Below Grade Alignment Op ons At-Grade Alignment Op ons Three Tracks Centered Above Grade Alignment Op on One Track East/West of Exis ng Example preliminary alterna ves
The primary issues being addressed are: Increase capacity Reduce travel mes Reduce conflicts with VRE Area Op ons, Fredericksburg Example preliminary alterna ve Example preliminary alterna ves
Get Involved! We want to hear from you! Fill out a comment form today. Leave a message on the project hotline: (888) 832-0900, TDD 711 Email your comments to: info@dc2rvarail.com Mail your comments to: Emily Stock, Manager of Rail Planning Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transporta on 801 East Main Street, Suite 1000 Richmond, VA 23219 Comments on the preliminary alterna ves and screening process will be accepted through June 23, 2015. Visit www.dc2rvarail.com to par cipate in our online mee ng and review today s materials.
Project Timeline The Tier II EIS is expected to be completed by 2017. Scoping issues and concerns the project should address is needed Screening Final EIS based on the comments Public Scoping (11/2014) Public (6/2015) Public Public Hearing Record of Issued by FRA; documents
What Is Important to You? As DRPT develops op ons, many poten al impacts and benefits will be considered. Impacts on: Air quality Noise and vibra on Wildlife and protected species Wetlands and water resources Hazardous materials and waste Traffic and transporta on Communi es Benefits: Travel me Economic benefits Frequency of service Connec ons to other travel modes Land use Agricultural lands Parks, recrea on, and open space Visual quality Construc on impacts Indirect and cumula ve effects Speeds Ameni es and comfort Reliability System capacity Your input will help shape our alterna ves development screening process.