Tracks, tracks everywhere and not a train to catch.
Posted on September 30, 2007
First, let’s face facts. There’s a fall line in Virginia that either limits or supports progress. Western Virginia, as a whole, is fairly isolated. Sure, if we have something to ship, there are plenty of ways to ship it. All along the I-81 corridor, there are long-haul trucking terminals. And, you see thousands of coal cars rolling along the N&W lines that established the prosperity of our valley. But, in our new economy, are we really that connected?
Let’s admit that the world is flat and you can virtually conduct business around the world in your pajamas from your home in the Roanoke Valley. But, how many people really sit in their homes and derive their entire income from people they have never met in person? Congratulations if you are one of them. However, if you polled all the professionals in Western Virginia, chances are you would find that a large percentage relies on business that comes from clients outside of our isolated valleys.
This brings us to the critical question. If you have a professional service based in Roanoke, how do you travel to meet with clients? Let’s be fair. This is not a rant about air service from the Roanoke Regional Airport. It’s not a rant about not having Interstate access. It is a serious question about why, as a place with such a railroad heritage, we don’t have a single point of access for passenger rail service.
Let’s just suppose you are a professional in Roanoke with a client in Richmond. Right now, if you want to meet with that client, you will huff it up I-81 with the freight traffic, take a right at I-64, ease through Charlottesville and be there in three hours. If you wanted to take a train and actually get some work done, you would have to drive to Lynchburg, take the train to D.C. and then catch another train back down to Richmond. This would take you an entire workday.
It becomes pretty clear that the Roanoke Valley is behind a big 8-ball when it comes to connectivity. As the crow flies, it’s only about 150 miles from Roanoke to the state capital. And, it’s just 250 miles to the nation’s capital. Yet, the only way to get there is by car, following the freight route that is such an important contributor to our economy. Or, you could fly to Charlotte and catch a connecting flight, which would cost a lot more and take a lot more time.
Considering the number of knowledge workers in the Roanoke, New River and Shenandoah Valleys who have business in the greater Richmond and Northern Virginia markets, this is a huge disadvantage. It cuts into the bottom line of every law, engineering, architecture, technology, and other professional services firm in Western Virginia. This doesn’t even take into account other regional markets that are difficult to access and expensive to serve because of our transportation infrastructure.
Regional passenger rail service is not a revolutionary idea. It’s been studied and talked about for a long time now. In 1998, the state conducted a feasibility study of a passenger train from Bristol, through Roanoke, to Richmond and Washington, D.C. A steering committee was formed to bring the TransDominion Express to life. They estimate that it would cost about $120 million to prepare new and existing rails for the service. That’s about what it costs to construct 10 miles of interstate highway. After many rounds of negotiations railroad executives and legislators, the effort is still on hold a decade later.
On a broader scale, the National Association of Rail Passengers has put forth a comprehensive plan that includes the TransDominion Express Route. If you have ever ridden a European or Asian high-speed rail system, you quickly see the benefits of a viable national rail system. However, in car-friendly America, we cannot agree on a plan that would supplant auto travel with more convenient, more productive rail service. And, quite frankly, Amtrak is more of a novelty than a functional transportation system.
It’s ironic that we herald our train heritage when we gave up its very essence. We have a transportation museum that shows off our rail heritage. We have the O. Winston Link Museum to show off America’s most celebrated train photographer. Our visitor’s center is in a historic passenger train station created by famed designer Raymond Loewy. And yet, we have no train to catch.
As the world becomes flatter, the need for physical connectivity increases. Staring into a computer screen will never replace a personal relationship. Those relationships are what keep our economy going. Our valley is a pretty wired place. But when it comes to transportation, we are fairly isolated. And that keeps our economy from growing.
Next time you’re heading up I-81 before dawn to make meeting in Richmond, staring at the back of an 18-wheeler, make a note to call your state representative about passenger train service. You could be sitting in a comfortable seat doing work on your laptop.
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2 Responses to “Tracks, tracks everywhere and not a train to catch.”
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I originally read your article in City Magazine. I agree with you so much!!! I am from Roanoke originally but had the chance to escape after high school and move to Orlando, Flordia for 2 years for school. Then moved to San Francisco, CA for internships. Then joined the Navy in Aug 2001, got out January 2006 and Roanoke is so behind the 8-ball in alot of ways. As far as the train situation, it does not make sense that we (the city) prides itself as this Railroad hub of Southwest Virginia but no train service at all!!! What gives? I mean just like you mentioned, we do and have, had a glorious railroad history. This city was basically founded by the railroad. I mean if the city would be openminded and stop catering to just retirees and familys then this would not be a bad place to live. Not that I have an issue with retirees or familys. I am a father of a beautiful 5 year daughter myself. But for me, after living in other citys, that are bigger, they offer their citizens why more and are way more open minded. The city has left out the youth of this area!!!! The 20 somethings and 30 somethings. I mean come on, not everyone here wants to go to Virginia Tech or Radford University. Those schools are great schools but the city is so in love with certain schools and cram these schools down the throat of the youth. Then, the music scene!!! I mean, what music scene???!!! This is a joke. There is not one major music store where you can buy instruments. I mean there are only so many bars and clubs to play here. Actually, Roanoke does not really have any real “clubs”. I know my rant has been totally off the subject at hand but Roanoke, the city I was born in and reside in today is lacking so much, they need to wake up and relise that these younger people they are alienating,are the future of this city!!!! They need to wake up, listen or basically, tune in, turn on or drop out!!!!
In the November 4 issue of Parade Magazine, the cover story addressed the issue of rail service in America. It makes a very good case in support of trains versus auto and air. Read it here: http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_11-04-2007/A_Better_Way_to_Travel