“The real story is how many people showed up tonight; there’s real passion in the region for high speed rail. This is the most important decision in Hampton Roads for the next 50 years.” — Attendee

We’re on board with high speed rail…

Over 500 regional residents,  public officials and private citizens alike, jammed into Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Terminal on the evening of January 28^th. Only negative comment heard during this Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transit’s (DRPT) federal hearing? Not enough seats! The crowd was standing room only!

What is the economic impact of bringing high speed rail to Hampton Roads? According to Mike Barrett, Chair of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HREDA), it’s $3 Billion and 30,000 jobs. As the 36th largest metropolitan area, this region deserves high speed rail. “Proximity equates to prosperity,” said Barrett. “We will see immediate return on investment from day one.”

New DRPT Director (and former Virginia legislator and U.S. Congressman), Thelma Drake, arrived late to the event due to a disabled car in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). Drake explained that the mission of the DRPT is to expand the state’s transportation choices and increase mobility, adding that tonight’s crowd should show the federal government how critically important this project is to the citizens of the region.

Norfolk City Mayor Paul Fraim welcomed everyone and mentioned the announcement today of the $8 Billion in first-round awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program and how Virginia fared. (see White House Press Release)*

L to R: Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, CTB members Aubrey Layne, Dana Dickens

According to Mayor Fraim, this announcement increases the likelihood for and well positions the region to eventually win stimulus dollars to build a high-speed rail line from Richmond to Hampton Roads via Norfolk and upgrading the existing line for improved service on the Peninsula.

Fraim turned to DRPT and CTB (Commonwealth Transportation Board) members and said that the people are speaking clearly, the only message you’ve heard at public meetings so far… “nothing could be more clear, nothing could be more important” than bringing high speed rail to Hampton Roads.

Mayor Fraim also shared a heartfelt “thank you to the Peninsula” who “correctly and courageously designated Southside” as the appropriate location for Hampton Roads’ high speed rail corridor.

Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, Chair of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) echoed Mayor Fraim’s remarks and added that changes were needed to the Richmond/Hampton Roads Passenger Rail Project (R2HR) Tier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for  which this hearing was made available for public comment.

Mayor Sessoms indicated that the initial scenarios of a decade ago, and used in the Draft EIS, do not reflect current situations and must be addressed in the Final EIS. For example, the third crossing originally planned for the James River as an alternate to the HRBT or the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT), will not be built in any foreseeable future and is not a factor. Also, the Obama administration has serious funding available for national passenger rail and an alternative should be included in the EIS that reflects true high speed rail, not just higher speed rail.

Insuring the economic health of the state’s urban centers should be a top priority for the Commonwealth, said Sessoms, and this consensus on high speed rail exhibits Hampton Roads’ ability to come together as one region. The region’s unanimous choice, as evidenced by TPO Resolution of October 30th and input at public hearings, is an enhanced version of Alternative #1:

Endorse the extension of high-speed rail service from Washington DC to Richmond/Petersburg and the Hampton Roads region, designating the Norfolk Southern/Route 460 corridor as the Regional High-Speed Rail corridor (110mph and 90% reliability) designated ultimately at speeds of more than 100mph. And, enhance the intercity passenger rail service (89mph and 90% reliability) along the CSX/I-64 corridor. The HRTPO position is best reflected in a strengthened alternative #1, which we strongly endorse.

DRPT Rail Chief Kevin Page addresses a standing room only crowd

Norfolk City Council Member and Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Board member Randy Wright spoke to the fact that the U.S. federal highway system passed Hampton Roads by 50 years ago, creating a cul de sac. Now, the region has a significant opportunity for a true multi-modal system with bus, intercity rail, taxi, light rail, cruises and ferries. “This is the way of the future, and we need to be part of it,” said Wright.

Hampton Roads’ CTB representative Aubrey Layne said, “I’m a native of this area, and I reside in Virginia Beach, but I live in Hampton Roads.” Layne noted that regional problems require regional solutions and thanked the leadership of the HRTPO for its “truly historic unanimous decision” recognizing that high speed rail is a matter of quality of life. “We do not want to miss this train,” added Layne.

DRPT’s Chief of Rail Transportation Kevin Page noted the unified, vocal support for Hampton Roads High Speed Rail from here to Richmond and then reviewed the process for everyone:

• The Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is lead federal agency and DRPT is the lead state agency.
• Once public comments have been received and considered, the CTB will select the preferred alternative. Many factors are considered, such as environmental impact, capital and operating costs, ridership, revenues, travel time and public preference.
• The Hampton Roads rail project must have “independent utility,” meaning it can be developed as a complete and independent project and has logical termini at each end.
• Draft EIS Alternatives “Status Quo,” “Baseline” do not support the purpose or the needs of the region nor are they logical based on factors such as population and improvements needed.
• The capital costs shown on the Draft EIS for Alternative #1 are slightly misleading. Twenty-four miles of rail for completing the Richmond to Petersburg section at a cost of $148.9 Million was included in the Richmond-Hampton Roads project analysis. However, the Raleigh-Richmond application also included this portion of the project and would, therefore, be deducted from the R2HR proposal.
• Once an alternative is selected, Tier 2 studies will dive deeper into environmental considerations.
• 90mph is listed as an optimum higher speed as current tracks used by freight rail may be used.
• DRPT will apply for Round 2 Track 2 ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act),i.e stimulus, funds to advance the preferred alternative and then prepare and submit the Final Tier 2 EIS to FRA.
• FRA determines the proposal’s eligibility for funding.

Suffolk Mayor Linda Johnson throws in her community’s support for the region’s High Speed Rail resolution

The PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION of the evening lasted more than 2 hours, limited to 40 speakers:

• Full support of the TPO Resolution was endorsed by all commenters, including Suffolk Mayor Linda Johnson on behalf of the citizens of her city.
• John Uhrin, Virginia Beach City Council member, who operates hotels and restaurants along the oceanfront cited his reasons for high speed rail as tourists and the jobs and tax revenue they create.  Tourism is big business in Hampton Roads, generating $1.1 Billion in Virginia Beach’s economy alone. According to surveys, 69% of visitors use HRBT for their trip and listed it as the top negative to their Hampton Roads experience. “High speed rail is the only project that can maintain the long-term viability of our region,” said Uhrin. Nancy Perry, Director of the Virginia Beach Hotel Motel Association, echoed Uhrin’s highlight of traffic congestion as a tourist deterrent and something that high speed rail could help solve.
• Rod Woolard, Director of the City of Norfolk’s Dept. of Development, reinforced the need for connection of national city centers by rail, noting that downtown Norfolk has 4.2 million square feet of office space as the region’s business hub, and deserving of true high speed rail.
• Sandy Harris, chair of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority, declared that true high speed rail was a real asset to business travelers and would provide 40-50% more ridership than estimated, more frequent and shorter trips than estimated, and better trains would encourage more riders as well.
• A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern shared that incremental improvements to existing NS rail line could be made for approximately $75 Million and in a period of just two 2 years.
• Mayor Fraim spoke again and stated that he and Mayor Sessoms were jointly submitting a 20-page “technical memorandum” to state officials seeking to correct errors they see in the Draft EIS “in the spirit of a supporting partner.” Fraim encouraged that these corrective actions be completed as quickly as possible. One action he pointed to: the economies of scale created with true high speed and its better service and frequency. Fraim also emphasized that all key stakeholders, including the freight rail companies, must be included at the planning table. As the Mayor ended his comments, he asked for anyone supporting the TPO’s Resolution to stand; nearly everyone in the room stood in Half Moone’s expansive central hall and with a round of rousing applause.
• Dwight Farmer, Executive Director of the HRTPO, also asked for DRPT to be expeditious with their work to complete the Tier I EIS in order to obtain a Record of Determination from FRA; at that time, the TPO will “aggressively implement the steps to achieve the region’s high speed rail goals.” The goal for completion of Tier 2 work is Spring 2010. Farmer shared the TPO Board’s appreciation of DRPT’s hard work, dedication and years of service on rail progress and said, “This region is ready to ride the rail.”
• With the largest concentration of federal and military personnel and assets outside of Washington DC, Frank Roberts, Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facility Alliance (HRMFFA), expressed the serious national security need for high speed rail connecting Hampton Roads. “Washington to Hampton Roads is the ideal distance to be connected by rail,” said Roberts. He emphasized:
  • Travel between Hampton Roads and DC is constant and heavy with this stakeholder group;
  • Fort Lee (Combined Arms Support Command, south of Richmond in Petersburg) is tripling in size by 2011 as part of BRAC;
  • Only travel choices now are by car or air; rail would provide a better alternative with environmental benefits; and
  • Capturing non productive hours of federal and military employees would equate to federal savings of approximately $250,000 annually.
• Ray Taylor of Future of Hampton Roads, a 35-year old regional think tank, also congratulated the TPO on its historic resolution. And, he reinforced the idea that true high speed rail (110+mph) is needed to Hampton Roads in order to be compatible with the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor as well as insure reliability, safety and quality of life.
• Bill Foster, President of TowneBank-Norfolk and President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation reported that his family has lived here for generations. High speed rail in Hampton Roads is “the tip of the proverbial iceberg” in terms of affordable travel options and offers the single best investment for rail in the nation.
• “Hampton Roads is ‘America’s First Region’ and shouldn’t be the last region with high speed rail,” said Dan Plaugher, Executive Director of Virginians for High Speed Rail. Plaugher also pointed to the announcement of the first round of stimulus awards, proclaiming that “Hampton Roads must be the southern termini of Northeast High Speed Rail (NEHSR) as Boston is the northernmost.”
• Resident George Crawley added, “I’m a native of Newport News (on the Peninsula), a resident of Norfolk, but I’m a regional guy.”
• Old Dominion University’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, Bob Fenning, shared some unique stats on behalf of ODU’s 2,200 faculty and staff and 24,000 students:  4,500 of their in-state students reside in Richmond and Northern Virginia, and the vast majority of faculty and staff must travel to Richmond and DC continuously. ODU’s out-of-state student population is heavily concentrated in the northeast.
• Karen Scherberger of Norfolk’s FestEvents, one of the largest special events organizations in the country,  also invoked the tourism benefits of high speed rail, sharing that 80% of Norfolk FestEvents attendees are from outside of Norfolk and 30% are from outside of the Hampton Roads region, particularly Richmond and DC areas. “According to the International Festival and Events Association, we have the largest concentration of festivals and events in the U.S. here,” said Scherberger. Visitors expenditures are five times that of residents, and we must mitigate traffic congestion to continue to attract tourists.
• Shurl Montgomery, CEO of $100 Million agency Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, reinforced the emergency evacuation need for high speed rail, especially for citizens with no other means of transportation.
• Kathy Nelson with Navy-Marine Corps Relief and a member of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s leadership group, spoke on behalf of the 1200-plus graduates of LEAD Hampton Roads. The current class of 55 took on high speed rail as a project because, she said, “we found that we were not well informed and neither were our friends, families and colleagues.” Nelson, a 27-year Navy veteran, added, “Like many sailors, we came here and stayed here; we fell in love with this region. We have the most infrastructure intensive region in the nation, though.” Nelson also delivered a message for Delegate John Cosgrove, who could not attend tonight’s hearing due to commitments with the current General Assembly sessions, that the Hampton Roads Caucus is in full support of the TPO’s Resolution for high speed rail.
• Local businessman, Bobby Wright, donning a striped rail conductor’s hat, said “most people had no idea there was federal money on the table,” alluding to the reason many citizens had not been engaged with the rail issue before tonight. He also pointed to the region’s “brain drain” and that we would lose more talented and educated civilians and military people without a connection to high speed rail. Invoking an informal Facebook poll about rail alternatives, Wright said that an enhanced Alternative #1 was the unofficial choice of poll respondents.
• Louis Guy, retired engineer, said, “this is a doctorate level course in public participation… I regret that we didn’t have this type of public meeting fifteen years ago.” Guy added that the interstate highway system didn’t happen overnight and encouraged all in attendance to have the wisdom and vision to be “in it for the long haul.” Guy also requested that an existing historic rail corridor to the southwest connecting Hampton Roads to Raleigh through Weldon, NC (“the first rail corridor to ever come to Hampton Roads”) should be added to the EIS for future study.
• Henry Rhyto, Chair of Hampton Roads Transit’s Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC), reinforced comments made earlier about HRBT congestion and suggested that rail travel is a more effective alternative to air travel for trips less than 500 miles. “There is no road construction money; the only real alternative is rail money,” said Rhyto.
• Norfolk resident Chris Malendoski pointed out that Hampton Roads is the most populous MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) within the 1000 miles of coastline between New York City and Miami. Referencing Hampton Roads as ‘Pentagon South’, “I’m not sure why Virginia was shorted in today’s federal stimulus money awards. Use this adversity as a wake-up call; we cannot afford to be on auto-pilot,” said Malendoski.
• Ellis James, a Sierra Club member, said, “We can move forward, or we can stop dead in our tracks.” James supports enhanced Alternative #1 as well, adding that high speed rail has a lesser impact on the environment. “High speed rail can take tens of thousands of cars and trucks off the interstate. It helps the environment,” said James.
• Retired railroad engineer, Al Carpenter, said, “$1 spent on rail goes further than $1 spent on any other transportation mode.” He also encouraged DRPT to wisely locate the Petersburg station for future access to westward routes. “The new Newport News station should be located so we can use a ferry across the James (River),” Carpenter added.

Other residents added:

“My preferred alternative isn’t among the alternatives listed. I want trains to cross the James River from the Peninsula to the Southside and then to North Carolina. We are not a cul de sac; we are not a spur; we are a destination. Our motto should be ‘Start here, go everywhere’.”

“We’re light years behind Europe and Asia. I want dedicated tracks not shared with freight, with no grade crossings. I don’t want mediocre rail. It’s like putting a Clydesdale in the Kentucky Derby and expecting him to win.”

“What drives human behavior? We’re a practical people. Time is as important as cost– time with your family, time with your community. We are a community and frustrated at being a cul de sac. How degrading it is to be out of the loop. Bringing high speed rail to this community is a wonderful thing.”

“We are sitting on a goldmine in Hampton Roads… the port and tourism… all hindered by transportation. We’re the point of entry for global business, not a cul de sac. (High speed rail) would bring the right kinds of businesses here.”

“I support high speed rail; just be sure there’s an open dialogue with all stakeholders to avoid missteps and to fiscally manage the project in an environmentally friendly way. My neighborhood will be served by (the region’s new) light rail, and I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I’m a citizen of Hampton Roads even though I live in Virginia Beach. The Final EIS should include a long-term future vision using Census 2010 numbers with updated ridership and economic impacts, real high speed trains and a southern route.” (commenter is a professional civil engineer)

“High speed rail is a baby step; it’s been proven in Japan. Concentrate on what the future holds, such as Maglev trains.”

Others who spoke in support of high speed rail included a small manufacturer in Virginia Beach, a resident with access to health care problems due to transportation issues, a woman whose husband had to forgo the UVA-Tech game tonight due to tunnel congestion, Board President of Opportunity, Inc. (South Hampton Roads Workforce Development), President of Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) and a representative of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMPTO), Hampton Roads.

* High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program 1st Round Funding, awarded on 27Jan10 — North Carolina and Virginia are receiving $620 Million of the $8 Billion recently made available from ARRA High Speed Rail funding. Of the $620 Million, $520 Million has been allocated to the Raleigh to Charlotte Corridor; $75 Million for the DC-Richmond Corridor, and ONLY $25 Million for the Richmond to Raleigh Corridor (Virginia’s application was for $1.8 Billion).

by Missy Schmidt, Communication Manager, Hampton Roads Partnership