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July 16, 2019
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Director's Message
Welcome to the first of many editions of DRPT News! As we begin Fiscal Year 2020, I want to take this opportunity to highlight many of the key initiatives that our agency is leading.
In this edition, you will read about one of Virginia's most important upcoming transportation projects: the new Long Bridge which spans the Potomac River. With its completion, Virginia will be able to provide increased frequencies to our growing Amtrak rail service, allow the Virginia Railway Express to expand, and improve the flow of freight rail movement. In the meantime, I encourage you to take advantage of our 15% off Virginia Anytime Fare to book travel to and from Virginia destinations, including the District of Columbia, on Amtrak's Northeast Regional trains.
You will also learn about recent improvements and reforms to transit funding and oversight. With the General Assembly's leadership, we have implemented additional reforms to WMATA and administered the MERIT program which overhauls distribution of dollars to transit agencies for operating and capital assistance. Additionally, we continue to work towards improving transit service by introducing new technologies; and the Virginia Breeze service provides an alternative option to vehicle travel on Interstates 81 and 66.
I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of DRPT News. Feel free to contact me with your questions and comments.
Jennifer Mitchell
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DRPT's mission is to facilitate and improve the mobility of the citizens of Virginia and to promote the efficient transport of goods and people in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective manner. Our primary areas of activity are rail, public transportation, and commuter services. We work with local, regional, state, and federal governments to accomplish this mission.
READ OUR DAILY NEWS CLIPS!
Every weekday morning, DRPT provides morning daily clips highlighting the latest news in rail, public transportation, and commuter services from across the Commonwealth.
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Fiscal Year 2020-2025 Six Year Improvement Program
The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved DRPT's SYIP at its June 2019 meeting. The SYIP allocates $4.6 billion over the next 6 years towards public transportation, freight, commuter and intercity passenger rail, and commuter assistance programs.
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Long Bridge: Unlocking the I-95 Corridor
Long Bridge is Virginia's only Potomac River crossing for both passenger and freight rail, serving as the Commonwealth's gateway to Washington, D.C. and Northeast commercial centers. Every passenger train, including Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, uses the two-track Long Bridge. With 34 VRE, 24 Amtrak, and 18 freight trains daily, the bridge operates at 98% capacity during morning and evening peaks.
An improved four-track Long Bridge will ease highway congestion by taking five million more cars and one million more trucks off the interstates each year by allowing the capacity of up to 18,000 additional freight and passenger train crossings annually in the future. In the current FY2020-FY2025 Six Year Improvement Program, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has allocated $783 million in state, federal, and local funding for Long Bridge, I-95 rail corridor improvements, and related statewide rail improvements.
Finally, we want to hear from you regarding potential improvements to the I-95 Corridor. Please take a moment to give us your thoughts on this and other rail and public transportation improvements along the I-95 corridor by taking our online survey here: I-95 Corridor Improvement Plan Survey
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MERIT: Making Efficient + Responsible Investments In Transit
The 2018 General Assembly made significant changes to the allocation of the statewide transit capital and operating funds starting in Fiscal Year 2020. These MERIT reforms include: i) prioritized statewide transit capital allocations; ii) performance-based statewide operating allocations; iii) WMATA capital and operating funding with increased accountability; and iv) urban area strategic planning.
MERIT reforms to the statewide capital program prioritize the Commonwealth's most important needs. The new prioritization process has a higher 68% state match guaranteed for all state of good repair needs, requires better transit asset management and enhanced strategic planning, and increases accountability and transparency in order to meet critical needs. Additionally, more accountability and transparency in the statewide operating program rewards lower operating costs and higher ridership to promote more efficient systems.
These reforms demonstrate that statewide transit funds are going to those projects and systems that best meet the Commonwealth's goals.
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Use of WMATA Capital Fund: Platform Improvement Program
The Commonwealth is already seeing the positive benefits of the additional $154.5 million in annual capital funds to WMATA as the agency started its platform improvement project along the blue and yellow lines south of Reagan National Airport. Throughout the entire system, WMATA has 45 outdoor stations with concrete platforms that have been exposed to weather and de-icing materials for 35 to 40 years. Twenty stations have platforms requiring immediate attention. WMATA installed temporary measures where needed to stabilize and ensure safety until reconstruction began.
On May 25, 2019, WMATA began reconstructing platforms at the Braddock Road, King Street-Old Towne Alexandria, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street, Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield Stations. In anticipation of the summer platform improvement project, DRPT worked with local transit agencies, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and VDOT to develop a plan of supplemental services to complement the WMATA plan. The goals of the supplemental plan were:
- To provide options to impacted transit riders and those that travel major corridors to minimize a shift to single occupant vehicle use during the shutdown period and beyond;
- To educate local communities on potential changes in travel patterns that may impact normal commuting patterns; and
- To manage demand by incentivizing use of transit, ridesharing, flexible work schedules, and telework.
As part of this program, the Commonwealth Transportation Board provided over $3.6 million of state funds to the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission's Omniride to implement additional services. Also, funds were provided to reduce the Virginia Railway Express step-up ticket cost to expand Amtrak usage.
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Amtrak Virginia
The Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund (IPROC) supports the cost of operating six intercity passenger rail services along four routes as well as acquiring, leasing, and improving railways and equipment. From October 2018 through May 2019, state supported ridership grew over 5% providing trips for over 578,000 individuals.
In March 2019, DRPT introduced a second daily train originating in Norfolk as well as an optimized service for two daily trains originating in Newport News.
DRPT also recently announced an exclusive Virginia Anytime Fare to save customers 15% off when booking anytime for travel within Virginia and the District of Columbia. Additionally, Amtrak Virginia now offers the Virginia Student Fare, a 25% off discount for student travel with a valid student ID. Amtrak Northeast Regional customers can also save more on group and weekend travel with Share Fares and the Saturday BOGO Sale.
Between now and Labor Day, customers needing ground transportation to and from any of Virginia's 18 Amtrak stations can save 25% on their first 2 trips with Lyft by using VAAMTRAK19 on the Lyft app.
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Virginia Breeze
The Virginia Breeze is an intercity bus service funded through the Federal Transit Administration's rural transit program connecting Blacksburg with Union Station in Washington, D.C. The daily route includes stops in Christiansburg, Lexington, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Front Royal, Dulles Airport, and Arlington. It also provides connections to local transit service in Blacksburg, Staunton, and Harrisonburg.
Due to its success, DRPT made recommendations at the July meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board for two additional routes. These two routes are anticipated to start service in 2020.
Through the first six months of 2019, ridership has grown by nearly 46% providing trips for over 12,000 riders.
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Technology in Transit: Looking to the Future
Transit technology and autonomous vehicles are emerging as the next evolution of public transportation. DRPT knows the importance of understanding these topics and exploring ways to assist transit agencies in using emerging transit technology. Subsequently, transit agencies will be more efficient and more attractive options for riders.
Recent DRPT initiatives include a:
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Three year partnership with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to allocate funds from the VW Mitigation Trust for the purchase of electric buses. $12.4 million in state funding, $8.9 million from the VW Mitigation Trust, will be used to purchase electric buses for Alexandria DASH, Blacksburg Transit, and Hampton Roads Transit. Additionally, Department of General Services established a statewide contract for electric transit buses that is open to all state and local public bodies.
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One year pilot for autonomous, multi-passenger shuttles in Fairfax County. This shuttle, which provides a first/last mile connection to Metro, is funded by DRPT with support from the statewide Innovation and Technology Transportation Fund.
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Two-part pilot demonstration project to provide transit agencies access to a pedestrian collision avoidance system. Revenue vehicles will be retrofitted with pedestrian collision avoidance systems, a low level of vehicle automation designed to improve safety and performance of vehicles. Nine agencies are participating in this program: Alexandria DASH, Blacksburg Transit, BRITE, FRED, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, Hampton Roads Transit, Harrisonburg Transit, Virginia Regional Transit, and WMATA.
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Virginia's Shortlines: Growing the Economy
The Rail Preservation Fund (RPF) benefits the nine shortline freight railroads operating in Virginia, which provide the critical “local” network and the “last mile” of service for rail freight to reach its destination. The fund promotes the continuation of rail service by achieving Federal Railroad Administration Class 2 track safety standards, allowing freight service to operate at speeds up to 25 mph. It also promotes development of rail transportation support facilities, encourages industrial growth, and promotes truck diversion from Virginia’s highways.
RPF has had an incredible history of success by saving lines slated for abandonment, overcoming deferred maintenance, and growing customer bases for small and medium sized businesses. Between 2009 and 2018, shortlines in Virginia have transported 6.8 million car loads, which is the equivalent of removing 23.1 million trucks from Virginia's highways.
In the future, the Rail Preservation Fund will support and fund projects that support state of good repair, support past investments from the fund, promote economic development with capacity improvements to promote customer growth, and meet the state rail plan's goals and objectives.
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