Document: DTFRDV-97-H-60002

 

U.S. Department of Transportation,

October 17, 1996

 

Contact: File Located at FRA

 

The Commonwealth of Virginia has identified the urban crescent corridor from Washington, D.C. to Richmond to Hampton Roads as its highest priority for implementing rail improvements.  The route is a section of the Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, N.C. corridor, one of the five high-speed rail corridors designated by the U.S Department of Transportation.  The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s (DRPT) ultimate goal for this corridor is to increase speed to 125 mph and higher.

The Grantee has proposed a five-phase program directed towards incrementally improving rail service in the corridor.  This study identifies the benefits and costs of incrementally rail service in the Washington, D.C. to Richmond Corridor. This cooperative agreement will enable the Grantee to undertake preliminary engineering of signal system improvements, an analysis of the need for high-speed crossovers, refinement of a computer model to simulate high-speed operations, preparation of promotional materials, and extension of the corridor to the Hampton Roads area.

Federal Railroad Administration has contributed to 50% of total, $185,000.00 to the project along with Grantee cash contribution of $115,000.00 and Grantee In-Kind contribution of $70,000 for the total project funding of $370,000.00.