Passenger Rail in Virginia Executive Summary! In 2011, Washington DC-VA-MD ranked 1st in the U.S. per auto commuter in the following categories:1 o Yearly Delay; 67 hours o Excess Fuel; 32 gallons o Congestion Cost; $1,128 o Pounds of CO2 produced; 631 pounds o Freeway Planning Time Index (reliability of freeways measure)! Since 2009, Virginia s Amtrak Regional trains have seen ridership grow by 99.83 percent.2! In 2013, Virginia was Amtrak s 8th largest state by passenger volume, and Richmond s Staples Mill Station was the 20th most used station on the east coast and the largest by passenger volume in the South.3! Nearly 26 percent of Millenials in Virginia do not possess a driver s license.4 1 Texas Transportation Institute, 2012 Urban Mobility Report 2 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Media Release October 14th, 2013 3 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Media Release October 14th, 2013 4 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Media Release October 14th, 2013
Introduction Transportation in America is one of the most important issues our leaders and legislators consider while planning for the future well being of our society. It is the infrastructure that facilitates our economy and daily activities. As our population continues to grow and our roadways become more congested, alternatives to automobile travel are in higher demand. We cannot pave our way to a better future. Rail is the most safe, economical and environmentally responsible option. It is also a job creator and community builder. The following information, taken from the 2013 Virginia Statewide Rail Plan and from resources provided by Virginians for High Speed Rail, supports the need for future rail infrastructure in Virginia and nationwide as well as illustrates the undeniable momentum that passenger rail has in Virginia. Virginia Partnered with Rail In 2009, Virginia became the 15th state to partner with Amtrak to provide statesupported train service. The Amtrak and DRPT partnership, Amtrak Virginia, has since brought Northeast Regional service through Washington, D.C., and into cities in Virginia. In October 2009, a Northeast Regional daily train was extended from Washington, D.C., to Lynchburg via Alexandria, Burke Centre, Manassas, Culpeper, and Charlottesville. One year later, the train had already carried 126,072 passengers, surpassing the budgeted estimate of 48,182. The FY2011 ridership estimate of 114,650 was also surpassed as the route carried 162,051 riders that year. In July 2010, Amtrak Virginia launched a rebranded Northeast Regional service from Washington, D.C., to Richmond. Two Northeast Regional trains make the journey from the NEC to Newport News via Richmond, and an additional six Northeast Regional trains stop in Richmond, up from one previously. DRPT most recently worked with Amtrak, CSX, and NS to bring passenger rail to South Hampton Roads with a terminus in downtown Norfolk. This service began in December 2012. 5 Why Passenger Rail? Passenger rail offers multiple benefits. Among other things, it can help reduce congestion on our roads and in our airways, lower vulnerability to rising and volatile fossil fuel prices, increase our independence from foreign oil, increase employee productivity, revitalize communities and stimulate development around stations, and curb air and water pollution. Increased passenger rail capacity also can help create jobs and maximize the energy efficiency and competitiveness of Virginia s economy, especially in corridors where additional highway projects would be prohibitively expensive and/or harm our communities and our environment. 6 5 Excerpt from the 2013 Virginia Statewide Rail Plan 6 Virginians for High Speed Rail, The Case for Virginia s Regional Trains: Funding Passenger Rail 2
Rail Momentum: AMTRAK In 2012, Amtrak operated 24 daily intercity trains and 2 tri-weekly trains in the Commonwealth with 1,466,965 passengers either boarding or alighting within Virginia and another 5,013,991 boarding or alighting in Washington, D.C. Amtrak ridership in Virginia has grown 77 percent between FY2004 and FY2012, much more than the 24 percent ridership increase Amtrak has seen on the National System in that same time. In the fiscal year 2013, the Commonwealth was Amtrak s 8 th largest state by passenger volume, and Richmond s Staples Mill Station was the 20 th most used station on the east coast and the largest by passenger volume in the South. 7 The growth in Amtrak ridership in VA can be explained by same trends that led to growth nationwide: 1. Rising fuel prices " Price of automobile fuel has risen 296 percent over the last decade and corporate vehicle miles traveled reimbursement costs have risen 71 percent. 8 2. Changing lifestyle and car-ownership attitudes among young adults " Nearly 26% of Millenials in Virginia do not possess a driver s license. 4 " By 2010, more than 30% of Americans ages 17 to 19 did not possess a driver's license, up sharply from 12.7% in 1983. 9 3. Rising environmental awareness " Virginia s Regional trains use 32 percent less fuel per passenger mile than driving and 20 percent less than flying. 4 " Passenger trains use 10 percent less fuel per passenger mile than regional flights. 6 " One regional passenger train equals 4 regional planes. 6 4. Increase in hassle of post 9/11 airline travel " The average flight delay at airports in the Southeast is 55.6 minutes. 10 " 9 of the top 22 least reliable airports in America are in the Southeast. 6 Amtrak has set annual ridership records every fiscal year from 2003 to 2012, except in 2009. Since 2009, Virginia s Amtrak Regional trains have seen ridership grow by 99.83 percent. 11 7 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Media Release October 14th, 2013 8 Virginians for High Speed Rail, The Case for Virginia s Regional Trains: Funding Passenger Rail 9 According to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. 10 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Facts About the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor 11 Virginias For High Speed Rail, Media Release October 14th, 2013 3
AMTRAK Ridership in Virginia (FY2009 FY2013) 12 Rail Momentum: Virginia Railway Express (VRE) VRE was founded in 1992 with a vision to provide a safe, convenient, energy-efficient public transportation alternative to driving congested highways from the Northern Virginia suburbs to the business districts of Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas. Each weekday, VRE now operates 31 trains over two lines, covering 90 route miles and serving 18 stations in 8 Northern Virginia jurisdictions, carrying upwards of 18,000 passenger trips per day. VRE service is highly reliable with on-time performance close to 87 percent. Ridership growth has averaged 6 percent year over year between 2002 and 2012, with the existing system operating at full capacity, including parking and midday train storage at its northern terminus. Capacity is a big concern as VRE is predicted to grow between 60 and 85 percent by 2025. In FY2012 (July through June), VRE reported a total ridership of 4,771,987 passengers. This represented an average of 11 trains per day in each direction on the Fredericksburg Line with 2,491,500 passengers per year (I-95 corridor) and an average of 9 trains per day in each direction on the Manassas Line with 2,280,487 passengers per year (I-66 and Route 29 corridors). 13 12 All numbers taken from Virginia for High Speed Rail s 2013 Annual Report 13 All VRE information taken from the 2013 Virginia Statewide Rail Plan 4
VRE Daily Ridership: FY1993 - FY2012 14 Congestion on our Roadways According to 2012 Virginia Performs, Virginia s average commute time to work in 2011 was 27.7 minutes, the sixth highest in the nation and about 9 percent higher than the national average of 25.5 minutes. The average commute in Virginia has been increasing, rising from 26.8 minutes in 2007 to 27.7 minutes in 2010 15. According to another report by the Texas Transportation Institute, the Washington, D.C, metro area, including Northern Virginia, was the most congested area in the nation in 2011, costing the average commuter 67 hours of delay and approximately 32 gallons of excess fuel ($1,398 annually). Traffic congestion presents more than a headache for commuters; it has a negative impact on the delivery of goods and services and on the general well-being of citizens. 14 Figure 3-16, 2013 Virginia Statewide Rail Plan; Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 15 Texas Transportation Institute, 2012 Urban Mobility Report. 5
Summary In conclusion, America s love affair with the automobile is on the decline. The younger generations would rather experience a productive, stress free commute on their smart devices versus burning gas and increasing their carbon footprint in their new sports car. Ridership numbers in Virginia show that when presented with options, Virginians will chose rail. It is up to our citizens to demand these options. There is a tremendous economic development opportunity in rail and alternate forms of transportation. Our governments and private sector leaders need to see the long-term, big picture in order to find responsible solutions. Stop sprawl. Invest in rail and other transportation alternatives. Build communities. Create a sustainable future. 6