This Tuesday, Virginia's Long Bridge Project broke ground. The $2.3 billion project will alleviate a significant bottleneck between Arlington, VA and Washington, DC. The new passenger-dedicated rail bridge will result in more frequent and reliable trains for the 6 million people who cross the bridge every year.
“Passenger ridership is on the rise, and capacity is virtually maxed out at peak hours ... a more modern structure and updated capacity are going to be vital to sustain that level of traffic, and we’re going to have a lot more coming. Supporting the economic growth that’s happening in this region requires us to make investments that should have been made a long time ago.” - U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Virginia has one of the most aggressive railroad programs in the country, which is backed by their 2022 state rail plan. This long-range planning has set Virginia up for excellent rail service across the state in the near future. It's an example other states should follow, and we can support their efforts by pushing for a strong national rail program.
