Closed-door group of planners gets update on rails and trails

Every month, top officials in the planning departments in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia get together for a briefing of various issues related to the built environment. Meetings of the Land Use, Environmental and Planning Committee are closed to the public but minutes are posted after the fact.

On March 15, the group had briefings from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, and the Virginia Department of Transportation’s State Trails Office. (view the minutes)

The DRPT’s presentation featured updates on efforts to increase rail travel through Virginia.  In December, four corridors were chosen for future grants from the Federal Railroad Administration. These included development of new service between D.C. and Charlotte, North Carolina as well as a new east-west service called the Commonwealth Corridor.

“The development of this corridor would connect Virginia’s two existing passenger rail corridors,” reads page 11 of the presentation. 

There will also be requests for increased frequency on the Cardinal line between New York and Chicago and extension of the Northeast Regional service to Bristol. 

“Further extending service to Bristol would increase transportation equity and geographic diversity of rail service in Virginia by increasing transportation mode choice in previously unserved, predominantly rural areas,” reads page 13. 

Budgets and detailed schedules will be developed for each corridor project this summer. Don’t plan a trip just yet. Service development plans are to be developed in 2026. 

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is the DRPT’s partner in planning efforts. The agency was created in 2020 to help manage a $3.7 billion investment in railway infrastructure. 

“In 2023, Virginia’s state supported service set an all-time ridership record with 1,325,931 passengers, exceeding the previous high of 1,021,452 riders set in 2022,” reads page 5 of the VPRA’s presentation.

Since VPRA purchased a 164.2 mile rail corridor between Doswell and Clifton Forge, many have asked whether the public agency would be more amenable to allowing recreational trails than CSX. However, page 11 of the presentation indicates there are restrictive covenants that prohibit such activity and negotiations would have to take place through a process initiated by legislation adopted by the General Assembly in 2009. 

“Proponents of trails must work with DCR through the HB2088 process, and then obtain the approval of CSX (grantee) followed by VPRA and BBRR (railroad operator),” reads the presentation. 

How did that sit with the attendees of the meeting? The minutes do not capture any of what was discussed per an updated LUEPC Charter that discourages participants from sharing information. 

The group also got an update from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s State Trails Office. (view the presentation)

The LUEPC next meets on April 19 at noon for a virtual meeting. What will they talk about? We’re not told until ten days after the fact.  

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