From the DC to Virgina High Speed Rail Project Website
"After the release of the Draft EIS, there will be a 60-day public comment period. A series of public hearings will be held during this time. Following the close of the comment period, DRPT will evaluate the comments received and make a recommendation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) for formal approval of the Preferred Alternative. A Final EIS will be prepared to document the CTB’s decision. The Final EIS will also provide answers to all substantive comments received on the Draft EIS and will include any additional environmental analyses or detailed engineering and design required for the recommended project. The Final EIS will be submitted to the FRA for review and approval, and FRA's formal decision will be published in a Record of Decision (ROD).
Following the formal issuance of the ROD, DRPT will begin the next steps to move the project forward. These steps include developing the final engineering and design, permitting, financing and construction for the Preferred Alternative."
Well buddy, I'm sure it's frustrating to a lot of folks but sometimes the wheels of progress have to roll slowly so things don't get crushed under 'em.
Here in ol' Virginia the "high-speed" rail thing isn't so popular with a lot of people, for a variety of reasons, some very good.
"wheels of progress have to roll slowly" But if those wheels are a new highway or taking a 2 lane to a 6 lane for no reason other then a kickback from the aspault lobby go right on ahead damn the NIMBYS full speed ahead with those bulldozers.
Firelock76Here in ol' Virginia the "high-speed" rail thing isn't so popular with a lot of people, for a variety of reasons, some very good.
Other than in suburban DC, how would people there know what HSR is really like? I doubt if many people who have ridden on a good passenger rail system would not like it.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Right now it's a question of placement. It could go through the center of town of Ashland (north of Richmond) but while the locals are more than used to trains coming through a high-speed line is considered too much of a disruption. "Ashlandi's" aren't anti-rail by any means, actually they're proud of the towns railroad heritage, but consider high-speed a bit much.
Routing around the town is getting opposition from the rural property owners as well. Right now there's no easy solutions.
A HrSR train is far less disruptive than a slow (45mph), 2-mile-long freight with four engines.
No doubt, but I'm just reporting what the opposition is saying.
At any rate, train speed through the town is restricted to 35 mph, freight or Amtrak. High speed trains would have to slow down anyway.
Having recently been to Ashland, it isn't the length of trains or noise. It's the proposal to add a 3rd track through the town. That would remove parking at the very least from the one way single lane streets that parallel the double track line currently. I suppose CSX would consider Ashland a bottleneck if it were the only 2 mile section of double track on the line between richmond and fredericksburg.
As it is now, there is no space between the ballast and the road. None. Not even a fence to separate vehicles from trains. The trains are maybe 5 ft from the cars on the road.
Firelock76 No doubt, but I'm just reporting what the opposition is saying. At any rate, train speed through the town is restricted to 35 mph, freight or Amtrak. High speed trains would have to slow down anyway.
Obviously that would have to be increased. Why so low?
Part of the reason, if not the main reason, is Ashland has "quiet zone" status. No horn blowing for grade crossings, and there's at least four of them in town, and the tracks do come right through the center of town, old-school small-town America style. Very charming actually, and it makes Ashland a great place for train watching.
schlimm Firelock76 No doubt, but I'm just reporting what the opposition is saying. At any rate, train speed through the town is restricted to 35 mph, freight or Amtrak. High speed trains would have to slow down anyway. Obviously that would have to be increased. Why so low?
Ashland - centered on the Amtrak Station
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Then again, once the head end has cleared the town limits they can open 'em up and run as fast as track conditions permit. Pretty exciting to be trackside when that happens, and you can get close enough to the trains to touch 'em.
Not that you should, of course.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.