The Virginia Department of Public Transportation (DRPT), in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), has scheduled public information meetings to introduce a preliminary engineering and environmental review project that will evaluate options for providing higher speed passenger rail service between Washington, D.C. and Richmond. The project includes a Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 123-mile rail corridor that goes through all cities and counties along the I-95 corridor between Arlington County and Chesterfield County.
The rail corridor from Washington, D.C. to Richmond is the northernmost segment of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor, which stretches southward from Washington, D.C. through Richmond to Raleigh, N.C. and Charlotte, N.C. and points beyond, ultimately connecting to a larger network of higher speed rail corridors. Improved passenger rail service in the Commonwealth will offer citizens more transportation choices and faster, more reliable rail service that connects the northeast and southeast.
The public is invited to attend any of four public meetings that will be held throughout the corridor. These initial meetings will offer citizens an opportunity to learn details of the study, review information from the Tier I EIS, and provide feedback.
An online meeting also will be available Oct. 27 – Dec, 5. The public can review materials at the meetings or online and provide comments by Dec. 5.
