The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) a $729 million Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program grant for the Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) Phase 2 projects, according to Virginia lawmakers.
The TRV projects will expand Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express rail services between Washington, D.C., and Raleigh, N.C., and will serve as an intermediate step for future passenger rail service for the New River Valley and Bristol.
Work will include laying a third track along key sections of the corridor in Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, making improvements to L’Enfant Station, and completing the new Long Bridge. Work will expand capacity, help alleviate current bottlenecks, and improve reliability.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined several members of the Virginia congressional delegation to announce the grant on Dec. 7 in Arlington.
“This federal investment is proof that the bipartisan infrastructure law is continuing to deliver for Virginia’s communities,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). “In Congress, I’ve had the honor of representing Virginians up and down the I-95 corridor. And for years, they have been calling for stronger investments in reliable passenger rail. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Virginians I serve, I look forward to seeing these major and historic improvements in action.”
The existing Long Bridge is the only rail bridge across the Potomac River connecting Virginia to Washington, D.C. Expansion is estimated to support 17,750 jobs and contribute $1.1 billion annually to the national economy.
“This grant is great news for Virginians,” DJ Stadtler, VPRA executive director, said. “The full funding of our Transforming Rail in Virginia Phase II projects, in particular, Long Bridge will result in a transformative increase in rail travel in the commonwealth and along the East Coast.”