Our Mission & Vision
Virginians for High Speed Rail is a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit coalition of citizens, businesses, localities, community organizations, and economic development agencies that educate for the need for the expansion of fast, frequent, and reliable rail service connecting our communities to destinations along the eastern seaboard to increase the economic potential of the Commonwealth. We were founded in 1994 as a partnership between the RVA Chamber and the Future of Hampton Roads.
Our mission is to educate and advocate for the expansion of fast, frequent, and reliable passenger rail service connecting Virginia to destinations up and down the east coast.
We want to triple the number of Amtrak Regional trains serving Virginia; reduce their travel times by up-to 35 percent; increase their on-time reliability to over 90 percent; and reach over 80 percent of Virginians.
Leadership
Executive Committee
President: Jack Tuttle, Williamsburg, Virginia
Vice-President(s):
David Wilkins, Colliers International
Barry C. Bishop; Ret. Greater Norfolk Corporation
Treasurer: Michael L. Testerman; NARP
Secretary: Jason Williams, RK&K
Co-Chairs:
Hon. Meredith Richards, Virginia Rail Policy Institute
James E. Ukrop; New Richmond Ventures
Cliff Dunn; Modern Machine & Tool Company
At-Large:
Josée G. Covington; Covington Travel
Robbyn Gayer; UBS Inc
Hon. William J. Pantele; Pantele Law
Trip Pollard; Southern Environmental Law Center
Board of Directors
Willie Bates, Ret. Amtrak and SMART Local 1933
Hon. Whittington W. Clement , Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Jay Corbalis, JBG Smith
Tim Davey, Timmons Group
Sean Driscoll, Towne Wealth Management/Raymond James
Rafi Guroian, Apple Inc.
Elliott Harrigan; Harrigan & Company
Henry “Sandy” Harris; Palladium Investment Advisors
Corey Hill, Kimley-Horn; fmr. FRA executive director
Steven Morrison, Siemens Mobility
Ronald Olds, Plasser American
Hon. Caleb Rogers, City of Williamsburg
James E. Taylor; General Electric
Thomas G. Tingle, AIA; Guernsey Tingle Architects
Robert “Litt” Thompson; Virginia Land Investments
Daniel Weekley, Dominion Energy
Emeritus Directors
Richard L. Beadles; VHSR Founder
Brad Face; Face International
Hon. Wiley F. Mitchell Jr., Esq.; Fmr. State Senator
Advisory Council
Gerard R. Deily, P.E.; Ret. Federal Railroad Admin.
Hon. Sandra L. Duckworth; Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tom Frantz; Williams Mullen
James Michel, Marsh Companies
Richard Sliwoski, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jennie Welliver, City of Richmond
Garland Williams, City of Charlottesville