Gov. McAuliffe announces planned changes for I-95 corridor

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, ArlNow: Morning Notes

by ARLnow.com — July 13, 2016 at 8:45 am

Long Bridge Project Coming — Virginia’s new Atlantic Gateway transportation plan includes the reconstruction of Long Bridge, the rail bridge that runs parallel to the 14th Street Bridge. As proposed, the new bridge would carry four rail tracks instead of two. Local elected officials expressed support for the project at a press conference with Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Alexandria last week. Arlington Connection

Hat tip, Greater Greater Washington: Breakfast links: Who gets the blame

by Matt Gontarchick • July 11, 2016

VA expands road & rail: Virginia will use a $165 million federal congestion-fighting grant to extend the I-95 Express Lanes and add an extra track along the CSX railroad to aid Amtrak and VRE service. (WTOP)

Gov. McAuliffe announces planned changes for I-95 corridor

By Max Smith | @amaxsmith
July 9, 2016 1:11 pm

WASHINGTON — A big extension of the 95 Express Lanes and more concrete plans for new train tracks were among the biggest new announcements this week after Virginia was awarded a $165 million federal grant to help address congestion for commuters, travelers and freight along the Interstate 95 corridor.

“This is the most congested corridor in the entire Southeast of the United States of America. It has more congestion than Atlanta, than in Miami, and it has gone on for years and years,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Friday. “Today, the congestion is going to end.”
....

The other major project the grant will jump-start is the construction of an additional track along 14 miles of CSX railroad that VRE and Amtrak trains currently use, the McAuliffe administration said. The additional track and public spending on the private railroad will eventually allow more passenger trains to use the corridor.

“It has been a choke point for many years,” McAuliffe said. “We are finally solving the biggest choke point on the entire Eastern Seaboard.”

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How a $1.4B DOT plan in Virginia could boost high-speed rail in N.C.

Jul 7, 2016, 7:00am EDT

[liberal N proud]

1. I heard something about the I95 Express lane extensions last week while in DC

I don't go south of DC on 95 often but I know it is a nightmare of a parking lot.

[femmocrat]

2. They need an I-95 bypass.

Terrible congestion.

[spud_demon]

3. I applaud gov. McAuliffe for this, but it won't be enough.

They're extending the HOoT lanes to Fredricksburg, when they need to go through Fredricksburg and widen the lanes to handle both directions (currently the express lanes are one direction in the morning and the opposite in the afternoon).

Fredricksburg is the biggest choke-point, in both directions.