With its beaches, historic sites and theme parks, Hampton Roads attracts many visitors from the western part of the state. Meanwhile, mountaineers and football fans here frequently trek west to support his outdoor tours and Virginia Tech.
A potential new train route could help Virginians from either side get back and forth faster.
Route under consideration State speeds rail travel from Western Virginia to Hampton Roads — the Commonwealth Corridor — to approximately seven hours from the Blacksburg area to Newport News. We offer several other stops including Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond and Williamsburg.
Liz Parker, president of the Newport News Hospitality Association, said, “I think additional transportation to bring people to the peninsula is a great idea.
Parker said he expects it to have a positive impact on tourism, which creates jobs and generates tax revenue.
“That’s what’s so important for tourism. There’s that kind of ripple effect,” she said. “We’re always excited about something that helps lubricate and lubricate the tourism machinery.”
This route was suggested in 2018 reports from several agencies, including the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Hampton Roads Regional Chamber of Commerce. The report concludes that the new route has other benefits, such as reduced traffic and connections to dozens of universities.
Gretchen Heal, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at HRRCC, said additional train routes are always appreciated by business travelers. Traveling by train can be more productive because passengers can work along the way, she said, and being able to avoid airport delays is always a plus.
SELC senior attorney Trip Pollard said the organization also estimates it will save around £15m a year in carbon pollution that exacerbates climate change.
Hampton Roads are above average Risk of being affected by climate change. The region is one of the most vulnerable in the country with respect to sea level rise, with hot days nearly doubling since 1950.
“Railways use far less fuel than passenger cars and produce no energy, so every car that gets off the road is useful,” Pollard said. “I think we need to make (the route) real.”
But Pollard said many other steps are needed before the project can take off. Further research and a green light from the Federal Transportation Board may be required.
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Rep. Mike Mullin of D-Newport News said many of his voters have expressed a desire to increase rail options statewide. With potential new routes and a new transportation center under construction in Newport, he believes rail travel will become more popular in Hampton Roads.
The new transportation center will serve as a hub for trains, taxis and buses, providing more accessible options for travelers with disabilities.
“I think both of those things together will really set the fire under the peninsula’s passenger rail line,” he said.
The new route may have its advantages, but Jennifer DeBrühl, director of the Rail and Public Transportation Authority, said it would not be an easy task. The project will cost about $400 million, she said.
However, according to DeBruhl, the ministry’s recent feasibility study estimates that about 175,000 passengers will take the route annually.
“It’s certainly possible, but it would require a lot of infrastructure investment,” she said. “We are probably looking at the 2040 timeframe.”
Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com
