State-supported rail lines in Virginia set a new ridership record in July.
“Passenger counts on Virginia’s state-supported train services hit an all-time high in July, with more than 110,000 travelers,” according to an article published by the Sun Gazette. “That’s an increase of nearly 29 percent from June and a jump of nearly 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VRPA).”
The spike in ridership can be traced to an increased number of round trips between Washington, D.C., Roanoke, and Norfolk, as well as the resumption of a trip between D.C. and Newport News.
More details on the increased ridership on each of those routes is included in the source article.
The latest ridership figures provide more evidence to support the benefits of the state’s ongoing investments in intercity rail. Here is a timeline of Planetizen coverage of the state’s efforts to improve rail service around the state:
- Virginia Railway Express Wants to Upgrade its Transit Status (July 2016)
- Virginia to Pay $3.7 Billion for 225 Miles of Rail Track (December 2019)
- A Regional Vision for Virginia, Maryland, D.C. Rail (February 2021)
- How Virginia Became a Leader in Passenger Rail (June 2021)
Information on the Transforming Rail VA initiative is also available at the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s website.
FULL STORY: Data: Va.’s subsidized train routes finding success
Maryland Moving Forward with Inter-State Partnerships for ‘Run-Through’ Rail Service
The great unification of D.C.-region rail transit is well underway, thanks to recent agreements between transit planners in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
Minnesota Republicans Kill Passenger Rail, Freeway Cap Projects
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Price Tag Increases Again on High Speed Rail in California
With costs rising from $40 billion to $105 billion, the California High-Speed Rail project is still moving slowly along, though with a heftier price tag.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
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Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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