Virginia Breaks Ground on Long Bridge Project

The flagship project of the ongoing Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative broke ground this month.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, U.S. Representatives Gerry Connelly and Abigail Spanberger, and other officials were on hand October 15 to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the state’s Long Bridge Project in Richmond, Virginia. The largest of the TRV projects, this $2.3 billion infrastructure improvement will provide increased capacity for passenger rail over the Potomac River.

According to a press release issued by the VPRA, the new two-track railroad bridge will connect Arlington, Virginia with Washington, D.C., allowing for the expansion of rail service to meet future demand. Construction activities including site preparation will begin over the next few weeks with large-scale construction beginning in 2025. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.

The new bridge will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge, a 119-year-old river crossing that currently operates at 98% capacity during peak periods – and will relieve one of the largest rail traffic bottlenecks on the East Coast. The new bridge will also aid the state in separating passenger rail from freight rail, improving the on-time performance for both.

“In Virginia, our crippling traffic has truly become a bipartisan issue, and the Long Bridge groundbreaking represents our bipartisan solution,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of the VPRA. “But it’s not just Virginians who will benefit. Travelers from Boston to Miami will feel the effects of this project, and through our Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, VPRA’s capital investments will add $7.2 billion to our economy.”

Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) bills itself as a national model for state-supported passenger rail, offering Virginians a reliable alternative to driving on congested highways and interstates. The initiative leverages existing rail corridors while constructing new infrastructure. Upon completion, TRV will expand Amtrak Virginia’s service from eight to 13 daily roundtrips, connecting cities across the state with the Northeast Corridor.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) initiated the TRV expansion by acquiring rail rights-of-way from freight carriers CSX and Norfolk Southern. Over the past two years, VPRA has secured nearly 500 miles of rail corridors along key interstates, including I-95, I-64, I-85, I-81, and I-66. Most recently, VPRA finalized an agreement with Norfolk Southern to purchase the Manassas Line and gain access to the Main Line, facilitating service to the New River Valley. By owning these rail assets, VPRA can boost rail capacity and collaborate with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to expand service on the Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines, adding evening and weekend trains. A key milestone for the next phase of VRE expansion is the completion of the Long Bridge project.

Virginia launched its first state-supported passenger train on October 1, 2009, with a roundtrip between Washington, DC, and Lynchburg. Initial projections anticipated 30,000 passengers in the first year, but ridership exceeded expectations, with over 100,000 travelers, highlighting strong demand for passenger rail.

Since then, ridership has continued to grow alongside service expansions. In 2023, Amtrak Virginia served over 1.32 million passengers, and ridership this year is up 7.3% compared to 2023. Amtrak Virginia now offers seamless, direct rides to New York and Boston, with three daily roundtrips from Norfolk, two from Roanoke and Newport News, and one from Richmond, connecting Virginians to destinations throughout the Northeast Corridor.

The State of U.S. Rail Services

Our nation’s rail network was one of the few components of U.S. infrastructure to receive a good grade in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

But while the ASCE gave rail a B, that grade largely reflects the condition of the nation’s freight rail rather than the state of its passenger rail.

“Despite freight and passenger rail being part of an integrated system, there remain stark differences in the challenges faced by the two rail categories,” the ASCE wrote. “While freight maintains a strong network largely through direct shipper fees — investing on average over $260,000 per mile — passenger rail requires government investment and has been plagued by a lack of federal support, leading to a current state of good repair backlog at $45.2 billion.”

The ASCE acknowledged that efforts are being made to reverse the state of the country’s passenger rail. But more investment is needed to eliminate the repair backlog and mitigate the related safety risks.

How GPRS Supports Rail Improvement Projects

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the current challenges facing passenger rail services in the U.S.?

Passenger rail services in the U.S. face several challenges, including outdated infrastructure, limited federal funding compared to other modes of transportation, and competition from highways and air travel. Additionally, rail networks often share tracks with freight carriers, leading to congestion and delays. Expanding service requires significant investments in new infrastructure, including additional tracks and modernized stations.

2. How is the government supporting the expansion of passenger rail?

The U.S. government has recently increased investments in rail infrastructure through initiatives such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These efforts focus on expanding Amtrak services, improving regional and state-supported routes, and funding critical projects like the Northeast Corridor upgrades. State-level partnerships, such as Virginia’s Transforming Rail initiative, are also helping to grow rail capacity by acquiring rail corridors and enhancing service frequencies.

3. What new developments can passengers expect in the coming years?

Passengers can look forward to more frequent service, additional routes, and enhanced connectivity between major cities and rural areas. Projects like Amtrak’s expansion plans, high-speed rail proposals in California and Texas, and state-supported initiatives are expected to increase train frequency and reliability. Improvements in onboard amenities, electrification efforts, and the development of new trainsets will further enhance the passenger experience.