Now is the time for us to have vision for the future of our transportation problems.

(Well actually, about 10 years ago when the penny tax for a third tunnel didn’t pass and back when Hampton Roads was an oversight during interstate planning… Those would’ve been good times, too.)

Right now, we need to emphasize the importance of high speed rail to the federal government. And the most pressing issue at this moment is to let the powers that be know by tomorrow, August 25, that Hampton Roads wants high speed rail.

Currently the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which is basically the plan for high speed rail in the Southeast Corridor, mentions Hampton Roads in the introduction but almost completely omits any supporting data about the Petersburg-Norfolk segment. It also omits any adequate assessment of the impacts that the connection of our line from Norfolk will have on the SEHSR Corridor’s plan. We NEED to get ourselves on high speed rail’s main line.

Here are the main points we need to emphasize:

1. The HSR line to and from Norfolk IS an integral part of the SE Corridor.
2. The HSR line from Norfolk will add prestige, merit and cost benefit to the SE Corridor.
3. Hampton Roads has not been included in the planning process for several years.
4. Documentation, in general, does not adequately support the needs of the HR metro area.

*To see more detail, please look to the end of this article.

Here’s the best way to get the point across:

• Use letterhead stationery (personal or business) for your public comment letter.
• Address your letter to both North Carolina and Richmond authorities, as shown below (VDRPT prefers email):

SEHSR Comments
c/o Marc Hamel, Rail Project Development Engineer, NCDOT
NCDOT Rail Division
1553 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1553
Or:  mhamel@ncdot.gov

SEHSR Comments
c/o Christine Fix, AICP, Rail Planning Coordinator, VDRPT
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
600 East Main Street, Suite 2102
Richmond, VA 23219
Or:  christine.fix@drpt.virginia.gov

• The subject of your letter is the “Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Raleigh-Richmond segment of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor”.
• Stay on the high ground with a positive statement: Rather than complain overtly about Hampton Roads being left out of the plan, emphasize that inclusion in the DEIS of data about our region will add value and prestige to the Southeast Corridor and thereby improve its priority for funding when those decisions are considered several years hence by the Federal Railroad Administration. For that to happen, our data and our issues need to be inserted now.
• Be sure to include a specific personal comment about how the availability of high-speed passenger rail will affect you and/or your company or organization’s travel both north and south.
• Email or mail your letter by August 25. Comments must be received by August 30 in order to be included in the DEIS materials.

The main issue is Virginia has been dragging its feet and behind in the process. Our neighbors in Raleigh are in the Tier II phase, while we are only in Tier I. It is time for Hampton Roads to be as vocal as possible and make up for lost time. If we support the Raleigh to Richmond line, it will only benefit us. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. As you can see from the numbers below our proposals are attractive and low-maintenance compared to our southern neighbors. Having a symbiotic relationship with North Carolina will benefit everyone involved.

Recently local rail activist and businessman, Bobby Wright, met with Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, in her DC office. She reiterated that Hampton Roads is competing against every region in the country. Karen ended their meeting by challenging Hampton Roads to organize and galvanize our youth. She wants to hear from the “citizens who’ll eventually ride the future trains.” Teens through 40-somethings are included in this demographic.

With that in mind, there will be an informal meeting of Hampton Roads citizens tonight at 6:30 pm at the Granby Theater in downtown Norfolk. Click here to RSVP on the facebook event site.

*Detailed guide to topics for public comment on the SE Corridor Tier II DEIS

Recommend acknowledging and addressing the high speed rail line to and from Norfolk which is an integral part of the SE Corridor and which will connect to the system in Petersburg.  (Initial plans were to do this, but it was not at all adequately done)

Recommend describing (rather than omitting) the operational impacts associated with the high speed rail line to and from Norfolk that will connect to the system in Petersburg.

Recommend describing the design, reasoning and related issues associated with plans for the actual rail connection in Petersburg (a Norfolk Southern and CSX connection).

Recommend describing the positive ridership (patronage) impacts on the SEHSR line in Petersburg associated with the future connection of Hampton Roads with its 1.7 million citizens and its unique array of commercial and federal agency interests that need to be recognized.

Recommend describing the wide range of national benefits that stem from including the Norfolk rail line’s connection to the SEHSR corridor.

Recommend describing (rather than omitting) the value this segment of the SEHSR corridor will provide to major and nearby metropolitan areas in both North Carolina and Virginia.  (Namely, Hampton Roads and North East North Carolina)

Recommend addressing train station plans in Petersburg caused by connecting the High Speed Rail line from Norfolk. (Address access, station/platform capacity, parking, etc.)

Recommend describing in the DEIS the possibility that, in the future, train sets may be required in the Raleigh-Norfolk-Richmond rail line system to provide through service (one-seat travel) for passengers travelling between (a) Hampton Roads and the Piedmont region of North Carolina and (b) also between Hampton Roads and Central Virginia.

Recommend stating that the design described for the Petersburg to Raleigh section should also be the design established for the Petersburg to Norfolk section of the SE Corridor.

(External to and in a way that will not interfere with the processing of this DEIS), Recommend scheduling activities that will generate public participation from agencies, citizens and transportation planners in the Hampton Roads and Northeast North Carolina metro areas in order to catch up and to increase the validity and merit of the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor. (The Hampton Roads region has never been adequately included in the process so far; the same for NENC.)

Recommend adding References in the DEIS that will include information about Hampton Roads and about the HSR Extension line from Norfolk. (The rail line to and from Norfolk is an integral part of the SE Corridor system, a point to acknowledge not overlook.)