By: Danny Plaugher

While Indiana (Hoosier service) and Pennsylvania (Keystone and Pennsylvanian services) are cutting or eliminating their Amtrak regional trains, Virginia is doubling down on better rail service.

Commentary originally published in The Virginia Mercury.

With the recent announcement that Amazon is bringing 25,000-plus high-paying jobs to Crystal City in Northern Virginia, I believe now is the perfect opportunity to move the commonwealth’s transportation system into the 21^st century.

Now is a great time to move away from the “more roads” transportation plan to an “all-of-the-above” plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2017
Danny Plaugher – 804-864-5193

Virginians for High Speed Rail Endorses Virginia DRPT’s Draft DC2RVA Recommendations

FY 2015 ridership on Amtrak in Virginia grew 1 percent year-over-year, and is up 56 percent since 2009. Virginia's Amtrak Regionals continue to do well exceeding 878,000 passengers this year. The Commonwealth currently has four of the top six best performing regional corridors (under 750 miles) in the entire nation.