(The Center Square) – Federal funding for a critical rail project supporting a new bridge crossing the Potomac River connecting the District of Columbia and Virginia has been secured.
The announcement was made Thursday in Arlington. A group of bipartisan lawmakers from Virginia celebrated the $729 million funding to support the completion of the new Long Bridge, which is anticipated to ease rail traffic bottlenecks, expand freight capacity and improve commuter rail capability.
The Transforming Rail in Virginia Phase 2 projects will help expand Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express rail services between the District and Raleigh, N.C. In addition, the funding will include improvements to L’Enfant Plaza station and adding a third track along vital sections of the corridor in Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties.
Supporters of the expansion say the projects are essential for future rail service in the New River Valley and Bristol.
Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine reiterated the need to expand rail traffic and reliability in the commonwealth.
“We’re thrilled we secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Long Bridge across the Potomac River and expand rail capacity and reliability in Virginia,” Warner and Kaine said in a joint statement.
Democrats Warner and Kaine credited the costly two-year-old Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for funding the project.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was also on hand for the announcement and underscored the importance the new bridge will play in improving the transport of goods for the entire East Coast, especially the commonwealth.
“This investment will help transform the rail system in Virginia, improving the flow of people and goods not only within the Commonwealth, but up and down the entire East Coast,” said Youngkin. “This project’s impact on the commonwealth cannot be overstated – it will ease congestion, make our supply chain more resilient, improve freight movement in and out of our world-class port, and boost local economies.”
Project supporters say the existing Long Bridge is the most significant choke point for rail service along the East Coast and is the only rail bridge connecting the commonwealth and the district. It is a crucial connection for passenger and freight rail connecting the Southeast and Northeast corridors, one of the busiest rail corridors in the country.
The funding for the new Long Bridge follows $1 billion in federal funding to build a high-speed rail service connecting Raleigh and Richmond.
“This $1 billion grant for North Carolina to make progress on the Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line is a big win for economic development in the region,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said earlier this week.
The new Long Bridge is estimated to contribute over $1 billion annually to the national economy and support nearly 18,000 jobs.
