Virginia’s passenger rail system set for $13.3 million overhaul
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia's passenger rail system is set to undergo significant improvements thanks to a $13.3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration announced earlier this week. This funding aims to enhance safety and accessibility across rail services in the state, including at the Staples Mill Amtrak Station in Richmond. According to DJ Stadtler, the executive director of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, the upgrades are crucial for maintaining and improving passenger rail as a viable transportation option in Virginia. "What this money is doing is it's improving the safety and ensuring that passenger rail in Virginia remains a viable way to get people around the Commonwealth and beyond," Stadtler said. The Staples Mill station, the busiest in Southeast Virginia, will receive $5.83 million for the construction of two new platforms, a new canopy and enhancements to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The station, which serves more than 400,000 passengers annually and accommodates 20 trains daily, currently faces safety challenges due to issues like broken lights and cracked concrete, which pose risks for travelers, especially those using wheelchairs or strollers. Stadtler emphasized that these conditions contribute to frequent trips and falls, making the upgrades a pressing necessity. "You've been on a rocky sidewalk or a broken sidewalk, you've got to constantly be aware of where you are," Stadtler said. "So, it's a big safety issue -- we've got trips and falls that happen there far more often than it should." The funding is part of a larger effort to modernize Virginia’s rail infrastructure, which began with a $3.7 billion agreement with CSX in 2020. In addition to improvements at Staples Mill, $6 million will be allocated to the Buckingham Branch Railroad to replace tracks and ties between Gordonsville and Richmond, along with the introduction of a new stop in Bedford. $1.48 million will go to Bedford to create a new intercity passenger rail station. United States Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which this new funding is included under. In a joint statement, they commended the funding, highlighting the impact it will have on Virginia's rails. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, we’re unlocking investments in rail across the Commonwealth, which create jobs, cut costs, and give you the freedom to get where you need to go. These investments will build on our work expanding funding for Amtrak and addressing rail bottlenecks across the country, creating a future where passenger rail is more affordable, reliable, and accessible for all Virginians, including folks in communities like Bedford. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner Stadtler noted that these investments will not only improve the passenger experience but also encourage more travelers to opt for rail over highways, thereby enhancing overall transportation efficiency in the Commonwealth. "Having additional options to get you where you want to go when you need to get there is really why passenger rails are part of the network," Stadtler said. The completion of these improvements is projected for late 2025.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia's passenger rail system is set to undergo significant improvements thanks to a $13.3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration announced earlier this week. This funding aims to enhance safety and accessibility across rail services in the state, including at the Staples Mill Amtrak Station in Richmond.
According to DJ Stadtler, the executive director of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, the upgrades are crucial for maintaining and improving passenger rail as a viable transportation option in Virginia.
"What this money is doing is it's improving the safety and ensuring that passenger rail in Virginia remains a viable way to get people around the Commonwealth and beyond," Stadtler said.
The Staples Mill station, the busiest in Southeast Virginia, will receive $5.83 million for the construction of two new platforms, a new canopy and enhancements to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The station, which serves more than 400,000 passengers annually and accommodates 20 trains daily, currently faces safety challenges due to issues like broken lights and cracked concrete, which pose risks for travelers, especially those using wheelchairs or strollers. Stadtler emphasized that these conditions contribute to frequent trips and falls, making the upgrades a pressing necessity.
"You've been on a rocky sidewalk or a broken sidewalk, you've got to constantly be aware of where you are," Stadtler said. "So, it's a big safety issue -- we've got trips and falls that happen there far more often than it should."
The funding is part of a larger effort to modernize Virginia’s rail infrastructure, which began with a $3.7 billion agreement with CSX in 2020.
In addition to improvements at Staples Mill, $6 million will be allocated to the Buckingham Branch Railroad to replace tracks and ties between Gordonsville and Richmond, along with the introduction of a new stop in Bedford.
$1.48 million will go to Bedford to create a new intercity passenger rail station.
United States Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which this new funding is included under. In a joint statement, they commended the funding, highlighting the impact it will have on Virginia's rails.
Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, we’re unlocking investments in rail across the Commonwealth, which create jobs, cut costs, and give you the freedom to get where you need to go.
These investments will build on our work expanding funding for Amtrak and addressing rail bottlenecks across the country, creating a future where passenger rail is more affordable, reliable, and accessible for all Virginians, including folks in communities like Bedford. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner
Stadtler noted that these investments will not only improve the passenger experience but also encourage more travelers to opt for rail over highways, thereby enhancing overall transportation efficiency in the Commonwealth.
"Having additional options to get you where you want to go when you need to get there is really why passenger rails are part of the network," Stadtler said.
The completion of these improvements is projected for late 2025.
