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Thank you for your interest in the Tri-Cities Multimodal Station Study. The Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Crater Planning District Commission (CPDC) are performing a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to select a location for a Tri-Cities Area Multimodal Passenger Station. In addition to serving existing passenger rail needs in the Tri-Cities area, the station will accommodate future high speed passenger rail service. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is serving as the lead federal agency for this project, with support from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This is the second in a series of informal newsletters meant to keep you informed of the study’s site selection progress, public outreach efforts, and project milestones. Please let us know if there are ways we can help clarify scope of the technical issues involved in this study. Additional information is available at the CPDC’s website:www.craterpdc.org/transportation /NEPA multimodal.htm

WELCOME BACK: Newsletter #2

PURPOSE & NEEDThe purpose of and need for a larger passenger rail station is based on the following:

Currently, 10 Amtrak trains stop at the Amtrak Petersburg Station in Ettrick each day that serve three long-distance routes: NY to Charlotte, NY to Miami, Boston to Hampton Roads.

In the future, the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor will be added to rail service options in the Tri-Cities area.

The existing station in Ettrick was designed to accommodate up to 20,000 passengers per year.

In 2013, there were almost 28,000 on-and-offs at the Ettrick Station

Current studies indicate that, with addition of the Southeast High Speed Rail, ridership from the Etrrick Station will increase to approximately 98,000 passengers per year by 2025

To accomodate current and future rail passenger needs, either the existing Amtrak Petersburg Station in Ettrick needs to be improved or a new, larger station constructed to service the Tri-Cities area.

CONTACT US // Joseph Vinsh Crater Planning District Commission // 804.861.1666 // jvinsh@craterpdc.org

Scoping Area 1

Scoping Area 2

Petersburg

Chesterfield

VSUEttrick Station

Hopewell

ColonialHeights

FortLee

Appomattox River

Scoping Area 3

Scoping Area 4

Scoping Area 5

Scoping Area 6

Scoping Area 7

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FIGURE 1

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R I C H M O N D

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H A M P T O N R OH A M P T O N R O A D S

P r i n c e g e o r g e C o.

D i n w i d d i e C o.

C h e s t e r fi e l d C o.

W A S H I N G T O N , D. C .

S t u d y A r e a

C S X R a i l l i n e

U S J . D J U J F T ! B S F B ! N V M U J N P E B M ! T UBU J P O ! T U V E Z

A public meeting was held Thursday, December 11, at Union Station in downtown Petersburg. The study team was on hand to discuss the purpose of and need for the project, as well as the criteria for evaluating potential station sites. Attendees had an opportunity to participate in informal, one-on-one workshop. The list below summarizes citizen input, as of December 29, 2014.

As defined by Amtrak standards, the current and future ridership at the Petersburg Station in Ettrick warrants a “Small-Medium” sized train station (the current station in Ettrick is considered a “Small” sized station). Given that the existing station is too small, new sites that can accommodate a Small-Medium sized station, as well as the possibility of enlarging the existing station in Ettrick, are being evaluated. The first step in this evaluation process is to screen the potential locations to identify the most suitable station areas. “Screening” is a process used to rank potential train station areas based on certain measures of effectiveness. For the first screening, seven scoping areas were identified for station consideration (see Figure 1). These preliminary station areas will be ranked according to how well each area fares according to the established measures of effectiveness. The measures of effectiveness include the following considerations: Design, Property, Environmental, Proximity, and Local Compatibility. Those station areas that are the most effective will be studied in detail in the Environmental Assessment (EA), whereas those that are the least effective will be eliminated from further consideration. The study team will update the public with the results of the preliminary screening in Newsletter #3 and on the CPDC website at: http://www.craterpdc.org/transportation/NEPA_multimodal.htm.

PRELIMINARY STATION SCREENING

CITIZEN INPUT

• Accessibility to lower income communities may be increased with a station in Petersburg.

• A more southern station location would be more accessible to Dinwiddie, Prince George, and

Sussex Counties.

• Consider upgrading the existing Petersburg station (Union Station).

• A location closer to Fort Lee and the interstate may be best if vision is service to Northern Virginia.

• Economic growth of small business should be prominent in decision-making.

• Bus accommodations at train station are important.

• Station should be as far from the existing Staples Mill Road (Richmond) station as possible.

• Consider which locations could realistically be funded and staffed.

• Access to downtown Petersburg should be a high priority.

• Consider the future ridership projections relative to station locations.

• Considering opportunities for redevelopment and revitalization.

• Long-term land use possibilities (i.e. development) should be a major consideration.

Issues to Consider

Screening Process Comments

• Platform Accommodation

• Freight Integration

• ADA Compatibility

Design Considerations

• Assessed Value

• Access Routes

• Relocations

Property Considerations

• Distance to Interstate

• Population/Employment

• Transit Access

Proximity Considerations

• with Comprehensive Plans

• Locality Support

Local Compatibility

• Environmental Justice

• Environmental Resources

Environmental Constraints

U S J . D J U J F T ! B S F B ! N V M U J N P E B M ! T UBU J P O ! T U V E Z

WHAT’S NEXT ?

SCHEDULE

PUBLIC MEETING

THURSDAY, DEC 11

PUBLIC MEETING

SPRING 2015 RECEIVE FONSI

SUBMIT DRAFT

EA

ANALYSIS PHASEPUBLIC REVIEW PHASE

2014

2015

Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

WE A

RE H

ERE

SUBMIT FINAL EA

The study team identified numerous locations for consideration as a future station site. As previously noted, these locations were presented at the December 11th Public Workshop and subjected to a preliminary evaluation. To date, only one site has been eliminated from further consideration: Scoping Area #5 (Washington Street Location). This site is not being evaluated further because it would require the displacement of businesses and could adversely affect Battersea, a significant historic site within Scoping Area #5. As the ongoing screening process gets more detailed, more sites will likely be dropped from consideration. As illustrated below, the next steps in the study process are to: continue with the screening process; conduct detailed studies on potential areas of impact to the human and natural environment; continue coordination with agencies and local authorities; document the study findings in the draft EA; allow for the public to review and comment on the draft EA; then identify the preferred alternative in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), assuming the preferred alternative does not have significant negative impacts. After a preferred alternative is approved by FRA, the CPDC MPO will focus on funding sources and final design.

Screening &Coordination

Detailed StudiesBenefit & Impacts

DocumentFindings

Draft EAPublic Review &Comment

Final SiteSelection

FONSIFundingFinal Design