Hampton Roads could benefit from Obama high speed rail plan

February 08, 2011|By Jon Cawley, jcawley@dailypress.com | 757-247-4635

Hampton Roads officials involved with efforts to bring high speed train service to the region were encouraged Tuesday by an announcement that the Obama Administration is proposing a $53 billion program to build new networks and improve existing infrastructure.

Vice President Joe Biden announced the plan that calls for $8 billion to be included in the fiscal year 2012 budget and the rest allocated over a six year period, according to a White House statement.

The money would allow the Department of Transportation to choose corridors for new projects and increase use of passenger rail systems, the Reuters news agency reported.

Daniel Plaugher, executive director of the non-profit Virginians For High Speed Rail, said the program would create a long-term and sustainable program so the state can better plan for high speed rail projects and secure matching funds.

“As long as there is a continued funding stream, Hampton Roads is in a better position than it was yesterday,” Plaugher said.

Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Executive Director Dwight Farmer said he believed Hampton Roads would qualify under the “emerging corridors” funding category.

“This breathes some life back into the possibility of Hampton Roads — no pun intended — staying on track,” Farmer said.

E. Dana Dickens III, president of the public/private non-profit Hampton Roads Partnership, said he thinks there are “definite implications for Hampton Roads” due to the existence of a large potential passenger base.