Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

[Jeff Smith]

https://theroanokestar.com/2020/01/31/h ... portation/

...
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority would be led by a board of directors consisting of 11 members, nine of which would be appointed by the governor, and would have the power to purchase and manage railways. Eight of the members will have voting power and would represent localities across the state. The authority would be tasked to promote, sustain and expand Virginia’s passenger and commuter rail service and to increase ridership.

Danny Plaugher, executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail, said his organization has supported the creation of a rail authority for decades. The nonprofit advocates for frequent and fast rail service throughout the state and along the East Coast.

“It creates an entity that can own real infrastructure,” Plaugher said. “The state has not been in the business of owning rail since the state sold the Richmond to D.C. corridor in the early ’90s.”
...
Plaugher said that rail service in Virginia has increased by about 30% in the past decade. He noted that while Virginia has been expanding train service, trains in Virginia typically run north and south, not east and west.
...

[davinp]

In Maryland, MDOT runs the MARC trains, but in Virginia VDOT does NOT run trains.
VRE is operated by two parent companies - PRTC and NVTC.

CSX owns the tracks that VRE operates on and limits them to running north in the morning and south in the afternoon/evening.

CSX is a freight train operator and not interested in passenger rail service.

I think Virginia should have a rail authority.

[Sand Box John]

davinp
In Maryland, MDOT runs the MARC trains, but in Virginia VDOT does NOT run trains.
VRE is operated by two parent companies - PRTC and NVTC.

CSX owns the tracks that VRE operates on and limits them to running north in the morning and south in the afternoon/evening.

CSX is a freight train operator and not interested in passenger rail service.

I think Virginia should have a rail authority.

Virginia has the Department of Rail and Public Transportation it is a kin to Maryland's Maryland Transit Administration. Virginia has put is money where mouth is when it comes to investing track upgrades. Maryland depends on what CSX and Amtrak does to fulfill their own needs.

[mtuandrew]

John: yup it does, but VADRPT is still beholden to the state government for direct appropriations. A VPRA would remove the need for year-by-year appropriations (only bond approval), and provide a direct authority to manage the Buckingham Branch lease.

[Sand Box John]

mtuandrew
John: yup it does, but VADRPT is still beholden to the state government for direct appropriations. A VPRA would remove the need for year-by-year appropriations (only bond approval), and provide a direct authority to manage the Buckingham Branch lease.

If memory serves, no lower subdivision of government in the Commonwealth of Virginia is allowed to levy taxes to pay debts without the consent of the Legislature.

[R36 Combine Coach]

In Maryland, MDOT runs the MARC trains, but in Virginia VDOT does NOT run trains.

MARC is actually operated by Amtrak (Penn Line). The other lines were CSX operated until several years ago as a B&O legacy operation.

[STrRedWolf]

In Maryland, MDOT runs the MARC trains, but in Virginia VDOT does NOT run trains.

MARC is actually operated by Amtrak (Penn Line). The other lines were CSX operated until several years ago as a B&O legacy operation.

And you're both don't have all the details.

In Maryland, MDOT's MTA (Maryland Transit Administration) controls MARC, which oversees running of the trains. The actual operations (which are contracted out) depends on the line: Amtrak for Penn Line (NEC between DC and Perryville) and Bombardier for Camden and Brunswick Lines (CSX track). Repairs are also done by Bombardier.

BTW, Hi, former Maryland MTA employee here!