by Jim Repass
National Corridors Initiative, Inc.
Vol. 3 No. 12, March 25, 2002
©2002 NCI, Inc., used by permission

Trains traveling up to 110 miles per hour from Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, North Carolina came one step closer to reality on Thursday as North Carolina Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett and Virginia Transportation Secretary Whitt Clement announced the preferred route for the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor.

A spokesman for the North Carolina DOT said, "Following nearly three years of intensive environmental study and significant public involvement, the secretaries announced the two states would work together to develop high-speed rail from Washington, D.C. to Richmond, South Hill, Henderson, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte. The route also will include a connection to Winston-Salem."

"Communities throughout both states expressed enthusiastic support for the project and told us they want high-speed rail," said Tippett, "but nowhere was that support more obvious than in the Winston-Salem area. It makes good economic sense to include them."

The environmental study evaluated nine possible routes examining potential impacts on air quality, wetlands, historic sites, parks, communities and businesses. The report also assessed the engineering feasibility, revenue, ridership, costs, public and agency input for each alternative. The analysis indicates the route that stretches from Washington, DC to Richmond, South Hill, Henderson, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte would have the best potential for high-speed rail service while having the fewest environmental impacts. Strong potential ridership and cost-recovery, along with tremendous public and business support, lead the departments to include a connection to Winston-Salem, as well.

"Today's corridor selection marks a critical first step to bring high-speed rail to the Southeast," said Clement. "Although this project has a long way to go before going to construction, we are moving in the right direction to provide more travel options to the public, help ease future congestion and improve overall transportation efficiency within this busy corridor."

NCDOT spokesman Doug Alexander said the North Carolina DOT and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation "held 52 information workshops, 18 formal public hearings and 14 small group meetings to discuss the project and solicit public input. The agencies also conducted numerous interviews with community leaders in both states. More than 80 percent of the feedback from both states indicated support for high-speed rail."

Alexander, who is also an NCI member, added, "Mayors, Chambers of Commerce and other business groups echoed that support and worked together to tout the economic and quality-of-life benefits of a high-speed rail system."

The governing transportation boards, along with the secretaries of transportation from both states, "have approved the route. Next, the Final Environmental Impact Statement, will be completed and submitted to the USDOT, state, and local agencies and the public for review," said Alexander, and added, "Following satisfactory review, the USDOT will approve the selected route and the second study phase will begin."

In the second study phase, which may take up to a few years to complete, the state transportation departments will more closely analyze the impacts of track location and determine potential station improvements. Once completed, these studies will be used to acquire the permits needed for construction.

The agencies will work to first develop high-speed rail along the selected route. Meanwhile, the North Carolina DOT will work with the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit to determine how best to connect Winston-Salem to the high-speed rail line.

Completion of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor is dependent on securing federal funds to help develop the route. Congress currently is considering several pieces of legislation that would provide dedicated funding for development of high-speed rail corridors. If funding is approved, the Washington to Charlotte corridor could be completed as early as 2010. The route would later be extended to Atlanta and Macon, Georgia, Columbia, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Fla.