THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD APPROVES RAIL INDUSTRIAL ACCESS GRANT

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December 5, 2018

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

CONTACT: Chris Smith, DRPT
Office: 804-225-3930

THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD APPROVES RAIL INDUSTRIAL ACCESS GRANT

~ DRPT also opens Fiscal Year 2020 rail, public transportation, and TDM grant application period ~

RICHMOND, VA – Today the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a Rail Industrial Access grant worth approximately $231,810 to Superb Solutions for You, Inc., a start-up manufacturer of environmentally friendly water treatment chemicals that mitigate harmful agricultural waste, purify drinking water, and treat wastewater.

The grant supports the company’s $2.3 million new facility in Sussex County and will allow it to import raw materials and export finished product by rail. Superb Solutions has also committed to transporting 260 rail carloads annually and establishing 25 new jobs. The two-mile track rehabilitation will remove approximately 884 trucks from Virginia highways per year.
 
In other news, DRPT opened its annual grant application cycle this week.  Prospective rail and public transportation grantees can submit grant funding requests for FY 2020 from now through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, which must be submitted online via the OLGA application portal.

The application period marks the first year the CTB will implement the new project-based prioritization process for the statewide transit capital program known as Making Efficient and Responsible Investments in Transit (MERIT) and adopted by the 2018 General Assembly. It will also feature a revised allocation process for statewide transit operations funding based entirely upon service delivery factors. 
 
Additionally, passenger rail applications will be evaluated on abilities to meet goals of the 2017 Statewide Rail Plan, support or advance design related to Long Bridge or the DC2RVA high speed rail plan, and enhance existing statewide passenger rail services. For more information, please see the Notice of Funding Availability for the Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital (IPROC) program.
 
Once the application period closes, DRPT will evaluate all submissions and submit to the CTB a list of recommended project funding in April 2019 for the FY 2020-2025 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP).
 
About the Commonwealth Transportation Board
Appointed by the governor, the 17-member CTB establishes the administrative policies and approves funding allocation for Virginia’s transportation system.
 
For more information on CTB meeting times and locations:
http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/public_meetings/schedule_overview/default.asp


About the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
DRPT’s mission is to improve the mobility of people and goods while expanding transportation choices in the Commonwealth through rail, public transportation, and commuter services. For more information, please visit us online at: http://www.drpt.virginia.gov

DRPT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of
its services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964. For additional information on DRPT’s nondiscrimination policies and procedures or to file a
complaint, please contact the Title VI Compliance Officer, Mike Mucha, 804-786-6794, 600 E. Main
Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219

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