Comments on: The Lowdown on High Speed Rail

By: Missy Schmidt

Missy Schmidt — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:22:12 +0000

ditto, Chris!

Hannah, excellent article… you are a thoughtful and inquiring person… what is your reaction to this comment to me (via Facebook) from a concerned citizen re: High(er)-Speed Rail:

“Tidewater thrived and will continue to thrive without spending hundreds of millions of scarce tax funds on a slower highER speed rail line between Richmond and Norfolk. The proof is all around us. We have done amazing well without this project. This is due in a large part to our geography, workforce, and the military.

The sales pitch/scare tactic that Tidewater will dramatically dry up and blow away because a low capacity passenger rail line isn’t constructed between Richmond and Norfolk – especially when we cannot afford such nice-to-have amenities looks to me to be like the used slick talking car salesman encouraging the buyer/rube to act now! Quick! – or someone else will scoop up the car of your dreams! There is another buyer on the lot! if you don’t act now – it will be gone!

If the BUSINESS LOBBY wants this project because they think it will benefit THEM, then THEY need to step up to the plate and offer to pay for it. These rail lines have a long history of requiring MASSIVE annual taxpayer subsidies to continue operations. Why? Because if riders had to pay a ticket cost that actually covered the cost of the service they use, very few could afford it – or would buy it – because air travel is faster and may be less expensive. So, to increase ridership the taxpayer subsidy is raised/maintained…. It is so easy to lobby for expensive amenities when someone else is targeted to pay for it.”

By: Scott Cramer

Scott Cramer — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:05:41 +0000

As much as I would love to see the HSR mainline come thru our area, I don’t see how that would be practical. How would HSR get across our extensive areas of open water without bumping up the cost significantly? The mainline obviously has to include Richmond and must connect to Raliegh/Durham Triangle. To shift the mainline to Hampton Roads would be add a lot of extra track. Maybe I’m not greedy enough for our area, but I’d be thrilled to have regular speed passenger rail restored to the Southside to connect to the mainline. The distance between Norfolk and the proposed mainline is short enough that regional HSR only saves about 20 min over regular intercity service.

By: John Doucette

John Doucette — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:25:34 +0000

Charles M. Badger
(804) 786-8135
charles.badger@drpt.virginia.gov

These should be right. You can look up phone numbers and emails of state employees at Virginia.gov.

By: Hannah Serrano

Hannah Serrano — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:42:35 +0000

I don’t know about those estimates, Berto, but I’ll be sure to include them the next time I follow up this story.

No surprise here, but I could not find direct email addresses to either of these guys in regards to high-speed rail. General emails to the HRPTO can be addressed to kgrauberger@hrpdcva.gov. And for the DRPT, the general email address is drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.

However, the contact for Will Sessoms as Mayor of Virginia Beach is wsessoms@VBgov.com, and his office number is 757-385-4581. The line to the DRPT is (804) 786-4440.

By: Chris Bonney

Chris Bonney — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:02:50 +0000

Terrific article, perhaps the best presentation of this information yet.

By: Arn

Arn — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:04:52 +0000

Thanks for doing this article! The information is great. It’s sad that more people don’t support this project. It only makes sense for the growth of this area. Plus, for those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to travel by train, it’s a great alternative to boarding a plane. It’s true that we require money to fix our infrastructure issues(i.e. roads, bridges, sewage, power), but it is also important not to forget our opportunities to help make this area more of a part of the mainstream communities on the coast. And linking us to the high speed rail would certainly not hurt our tourist industries.

By: Roberto Westbrook

Roberto Westbrook — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:38:06 +0000

Thanks for the in-depth reporting Hannah. I would love to see Hampton Roads become part of the main line. Have you seen any estimates about military personnel going to and from DC and Norfolk? I think that alone would be a great argument for this line. Not to mention how easy and comfortable it would be for business people to travel to DC and other major destinations.

Do you know if sending e-mails to the offices of Will Sessoms and Charles M Badger is as effective as sending a letter? I noticed there is no e-mail address?

By: Immy

Immy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:15 +0000

While I am still lukewarm to light rail (I love the idea, but think that ultimately it will fail due to the culture of the region) I am STOKED for high speed rail! I would LOVE to jump the train and be able to pretty much go anywhere major on the eastern seaboard!

I’m originally from Philly, so public transit is not a foreign concept to me. I would much prefer to put my family on a train to Philly than drive.