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.
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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.
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Leadership
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Executive Committee:
President: Barry C. Bishop; Ret. Greater Norfolk Corporation
Vice-President: Rafi Guroian, Apple Inc.
Treasurer: Michael L. Testerman; NARP
Secretary: Jason Williams, RK&K
Past-President: Jack Tuttle, Williamsburg, Virginia*
Co-Chairs:
Cliff Dunn; Modern Machine & Tool Company
Hon. Meredith Richards, Virginia Rail Policy Institute*
At-Large:
Hon. William J. Pantele; Pantele Law*
Trip Pollard; Southern Environmental Law Center
Board of Directors:
Willie Bates, ret. Amtrak, SMART local 1933
John Christoph, PhD; Smithsonian Museum
Hon. Whittington W. Clement, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Josée G. Covington; Covington Travel*
Tim Davey, Timmons Group
Sean Driscoll, Towne Wealth Management/Raymond James
Jake Edens, Co-Star
Robbyn Gayer; UBS Inc*
Oscar Gonzalez, WSP
Elliott Harrigan; Harrigan & Company
Henry “Sandy” Harris; Palladium Investment Advisors
Jacqui Hawkins, Hawkins Roman Architects
Corey Hill, Kimley-Horn; Fmr. FRA executive director
Steven Morrison, Siemens Mobility
Lorna Parkins, Michael Baker International
Hon. Caleb Rogers, City of Williamsburg
James E. Taylor; Fortna
Thomas G. Tingle, AIA; Guernsey Tingle Architects*
Robert “Litt” Thompson; Virginia Land Investments
David Wilkins; Range Commercial
Emeritus Directors:
Richard L. Beadles; VHSR Founder*
Brad Face; The Face Companies*
Hon. Wiley F. Mitchell Jr., Esq.; Fmr. State Senator
James E. Ukrop; New Richmond Ventures*
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
Jeannie Welliver, City of Richmond
Garland Williams, City of Charlottesville
Staff:
Danny Plaugher, Executive Director
Diana Hall, Programs and Communications Coordinator
Natalie Loeffler, Administrator
*denotes a former VHSR President/Board Chair
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