Over the past couple of years there has been much discussion over the implementation of high speed rail from Richmond to and around the Virginia peninsula (particularly Hampton Roads). This week there is a public comment hearing regarding the construction of the rail plan.
The draft EIS for the project has been open to comment for the past year and it is likely that construction should begin soon.
A dire need for an effective mass transit system is obvious to anyone that is driving to the area from Richmond. The traffic problem becomes even more severe during the summer vacation months. The Hampton Road Tunnel is a nightmare for commuters with delays adding up to several hours.
There is even talk of adding a line to Virginia Beach which would drastically reduce the amount of vehicle use and the resulting emissions. A high speed rail system to Hampton Roads in conjunction with light rail servicing the area can help to reduce the use of automobiles in the area.
This project appears to benefit nearly everyone. An efficient mass trans
it system would create numerous jobs in the area and cut down the automobile congestion at the Downtown and Hampton Roads tunnels. With the decreased vehicle use emissions will also be curbed helping the overall air quality of the area.This is a link to some commentary on the traffic problems in the area. It is a very informal source, but it demonstrates what kind of problems are faced in this area. The traffic congestion is terrible for whatever reason is. The bottom line is that a more efficient system of transportation needs to be developed for this area which is plagued with pinch points (bridges,tunnels) for traffic.
Hopefully construction will be underway soon and help contribute momentum to the mass transit movement in the United States.
I definitely agree that high speed rails need to be implemented more in the United States. Having subways in major cities is not nearly enough to combat the drastic overuse of vehicles in this country. The development of suburbia created a dependency on vehicles that needs to be changed in order to reduce pollution. High speed rails are fast, effective, and most of all clean. As cities and suburbs grow transit oriented development is necessary, and whether or not it catches on I feel will play a vital role in how this nation develops in the future. With talks about a Carbon cap and trade system I am surprised that there has not been a greater focus on high speed rails, and similar transportation systems. People want to control the pollution emissions from big companies, but then seem to forget they are polluting every time they drive to work, school, or the grocery store.
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