State agrees to assume more costs for Amtrak

RICHMOND — Responding to a federal mandate and acting on transportation legislation passed this year by the General Assembly, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Tuesday that Virginia will assume more financial responsibility for Amtrak regional service in the state.

The agreement had to be in place by Oct. 1 or the regional rail service would have ceased in the state.

The agreement affects intercity passenger rail service available between Washington and Lynchburg, Newport News and Norfolk, including Richmond.

Eventually, the new partnership with Amtrak will cost the state $40 million to $50 million, said Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton.

Roanoke will be included in a few years, and Bristol may eventually be added, he said.

Virginia is the first of the 19 affected states to establish a cost-sharing system with Amtrak in compliance with the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008.

The federal law requires Amtrak to work with the states to establish cost-sharing for the 28 corridor routes of fewer than 750 miles to ensure fair and equitable treatment of the states.

Under the federal law, states support short-distance Amtrak corridor service, some state-controlled service levels and routings, and a portion of operating and capital costs.

The federal government supports Amtrak’s long-distance network and networkwide capital investments and expenses, Northeast corridor state-of-good-repair expenses, and Acela/Northeast Regional capital and operating expenses.

Starting in 2010, Amtrak and representatives from Virginia, California, Maine, North Carolina and Wisconsin developed a plan approved by the Surface Transportation Board.

Connaughton said the General Assembly had previously passed legislation authorizing intercity rail support but until this year’s session had not provided funding. The money for the new Virginia-Amtrak partnership will come from state sales tax revenue, he said.

He said McDonnell’s administration “has recognized how important this service is to citizens of the commonwealth.”

In a statement from the governor’s office, McDonnell said more than 1.5 million passengers board trains or disembark from them in the state.

“Stopping regional Amtrak service in the commonwealth was not an option. … I’m pleased that Virginia was the first state able to sign this agreement,” McDonnell said.

In the statement, Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman praised Virginia as a forward-thinking leader among the affected states and said Virginia “recognizes the value, mobility and economic development that Amtrak service brings to the state and local communities.”

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