Virginia requested nearly $2 billion from the federal Recovery Act to develop a high-speed railway line in Hampton Roads. However, the state barely got a sliver of the money and could be getting even less during the second round of payouts due to the fact that Virginia has not settled on a route to bring the high-speed trains from Richmond to Hampton Roads.
Similar high-speed rail projects are breaking ground all across the country. The projects will create jobs and help our nation move goods, services and information.
Hampton Roads leaders say a high-speed rail line must come from Richmond to Norfolk. However, state planners haven't seized that idea. The current plan ends the tracks on the Peninsula.
Residents of Hampton Roads are telling state and federal officials that you can't cut out Hampton Roads from the plans for high-speed trains.
Presently, the only rail you can ride in Hampton Roads ends in Newport News. Under one state proposal, Newport News would remain the end of the line on a trip from Richmond.
Norfolk mayor, Paul Fraim says that plan makes no sense. He says the rail should bend around the Peninsula running from Richmond to Norfolk. Fraim says state leaders have got to get it together, and quickly, to tap into a second round of federal money. If they don't, Hampton Roads could lose out and be cut off from high-speed trains going up and down the coast.
Fraim says, "The importance of high-speed rail to the future growth and development of Hampton Roads cannot be overstated." Fraim is now asking state leaders to fix the flaws and get behind the Hampton Roads plan.
In round one of stimulus money, Virginia wanted almost $2 billion and got $100 million. Supporters of bringing trains to Hampton Roads are in Norfolk insisting that Virginia's rail planners focus on getting trains here in order to obtain money during the second round of payouts.
Similar high-speed rail projects are breaking ground all across the country. The projects will create jobs and help our nation move goods, services and information.
Hampton Roads leaders say a high-speed rail line must come from Richmond to Norfolk. However, state planners haven't seized that idea. The current plan ends the tracks on the Peninsula.
Residents of Hampton Roads are telling state and federal officials that you can't cut out Hampton Roads from the plans for high-speed trains.
Presently, the only rail you can ride in Hampton Roads ends in Newport News. Under one state proposal, Newport News would remain the end of the line on a trip from Richmond.
Norfolk mayor, Paul Fraim says that plan makes no sense. He says the rail should bend around the Peninsula running from Richmond to Norfolk. Fraim says state leaders have got to get it together, and quickly, to tap into a second round of federal money. If they don't, Hampton Roads could lose out and be cut off from high-speed trains going up and down the coast.
Fraim says, "The importance of high-speed rail to the future growth and development of Hampton Roads cannot be overstated." Fraim is now asking state leaders to fix the flaws and get behind the Hampton Roads plan.
In round one of stimulus money, Virginia wanted almost $2 billion and got $100 million. Supporters of bringing trains to Hampton Roads are in Norfolk insisting that Virginia's rail planners focus on getting trains here in order to obtain money during the second round of payouts.
