Posts tagged Amtrak
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More rail could be coming to Southwest Virginia
Although the General Assembly approved an $83.5 million budget amendment this session, in part to extend passenger rail service deeper into Southwest Virginia, that doesn’t change the fact that there isn’t a train station or even a platform in the New River Valley. However, legislation from local lawmakers that is heading to the governor’s desk aims to fix that by creating a new regional body to raise money for the facility. Keep reading…
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New renderings offer a revamped vision of a Union Station designed for people, placemaking, and transit
The renovation project for Union Station seems to be undergoing an identity crisis, trying to figure out if the region’s main hub for transit will create a pathway for cars or for people. Keep reading…
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Planners and business groups blast Union Station plans for having too much parking
Union Station, the nexus of travel for more than 37 million people each year, is set for a multi-billion dollar upgrade to bring this transportation hub and its surrounding facilities up to date. There is only one problem — parking. Keep reading…
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Could Maryland finally be ready to replace Baltimore’s oldest rail tunnel?
The idea of replacing the B&P (Baltimore and Potomac) Tunnel has been around for a while. But is now finally the time when we could see the project moving forward? Keep reading…
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More bus lanes, better connections, and expanded service are a part of a new Maryland transit plan
Late last month, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) released the first draft of their much-anticipated Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan (RTP). This plan could offer the city and its residents an opportunity to create a transit system that provides more reliable, expanded, and increased service throughout the Central Maryland region. Keep reading…
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Union Station future plans have too much parking, leaders say
Union Station needs a makeover, not only to upgrade its facilities, but also to prepare for expected growth. However, a number of local leaders including DC Councilmember Charles Allen and the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission say that the station is on track to have too much parking, a move which would stifle its function and role in a larger city. Keep reading…
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There’s no regional rail between DC and Philly, so I tried the bus and van service that fills the gap
All but 63 miles of the 457-mile DC-Boston Northeast Corridor higher-speed rail line are served by commuter or regional rail trains, while Amtrak intercity trains cover the route’s entirety. If commuter trains were extended to fill these gaps, it would be possible to travel inexpensively from DC to Philadelphia with one change of train, from DC to New York with three changes, or DC to Boston with six changes. Keep reading…
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See a week of Amtrak trips on this animated map
This animation shows how every Amtrak train in America is scheduled to move, over the course of one typical week. Keep reading…
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Virginia’s big buy-in on rail could transform regional mobility
“We cannot pave our way out of congestion.” With that declaration, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a historic 3.7 billion dollar rail deal with CSX on Thursday that will allow the Commonwealth to drastically expand Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service over the next decade. Keep reading…
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Virginia plans to expand the Long Bridge connection with another crossing
The state of Virginia plans to add another crossing to supplement the capacity of the 115-year-old Long Bridge and expand service throughout the region. Addressing the Long Bridge bottleneck is vital to Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express’s (VRE) ability to run more frequent trains and prepare for expected growth in ridership. Keep reading…