The proposed corridor would connect newport news with richmond, charlottesville, and the new river valley in virginia

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (CFDA 20.326) program to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) on March 15, 2024. The purpose of this award is to support the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP) for a proposed intercity passenger rail corridor connecting Newport News, Richmond, Charlottesville, and the New River Valley in Virginia.

The key products and services to be delivered through this grant include:

1. Developing a Project Performance Plan (Task 1.1)
2. Compiling existing planning and development materials (Task 2.1)
3. Drafting a Statement of Work (Task 2.2)
4. Establishing an approved project schedule (Task 2.3)
5. Securing an approved project budget (Task 2.4)

The proposed corridor would serve major metropolitan areas as well as rural communities in Virginia, complementing existing Northeast Regional rail services. The ultimate completion date for this project is July 15, 2026. As the designated FTA grant recipient in Virginia, DRPT will manage this project and may provide subawards to local entities as needed to complete the SDP.

The proposed corridor would provide new service on existing alignment, complementing existing state-supported northeast regional services connecting washington, D.C., with newport news and roanoke, VA. The proposed corridor would provide new service on existing alignments. Using service development plan (SDP) SOW framework, the corridor sponsor will develop a project performance plan (task 1.1), existing planning and development materials (task 2.1), statement of work (task 2.2), approved project schedule (task 2.3), approved project budget (task 2.4). The outcome of this project will be the project description for CID step 2, to perform the necessary work to complete an SDP. The proposed corridor would serve the blacksburg-christiansburg, roanoke, lynchburg, richmond, and the hampton roads metro areas as well as rural communities in between.