June 19th. 2006 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       June 19, 2006

Contact: Nancy Finch

804-864-5193

Rail Leaders Ask for

Rail Help in Return Session

RICHMOND-The president and president-elect of Virginians for High Speed Rail today commended Virginia General Assembly conferees for resolving budget differences and expressed hope for upcoming transportation relief.

Thomas G. Tingle of Williamsburg, president, and Lois Walker of Alexandria, who will become president July 1, said in a statement that serious rail needs require long-term planning and funding. “We can’t wait until another general legislative session for a discussion of transportation that includes rail,”
Tingle said.

Walker said the serious problems of Northern Virginia for passengers of Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak and those stuck in traffic must have immediate attention. A former member Virginia Railway Express board, Walker said VRE has been a phenomenal success but the 15,000 daily riders deserve help that will enable them to continue riding public transportation.

Transportation proposals that were put off by the General Assembly include $45 million in dedicated funds which would go to the new Rail Enhancement Fund, now $23 million annually. The first round of requests for the fund established by the 2005 General Assembly were $180 million. Dated estimates for Richmond/Washington rail work that would improve reliability on this route are $400 million.

Earmarks in the House transportation budget, abandoned in the transportation debate, included funds for Northern Virginia relief through the Virginia Railway Express.

“There is no question that to seriously address the critical transportation situation in Virginia with rail as an alternative to road congestion, we need additional dedicated funds that will permit planning. Surpluses don’t work for transportation, especially rail,” Walker said.

Tingle and Walker expressed hope that an upcoming legislative session dedicated to transportation will recognize and fund the increasingly profound funding shortages for all transportation modes in Virginia.

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