RICHMOND -
Richmond residents have listened to discussions of high speed rail for the better part of two decades.
On Tuesday morning, Governor Tim Kaine set out to convince the skeptics that this time the Commonwealth will seal the deal.
"We cannot grow as a community in the way we need to," asserted Kaine, "purely off of I-95. We have to have more real options to be all that we can be."
Those options have infinitely expanded with the passing of the stimulus bill. The unprecedented legislation appropriates $8 billion for high speed rail funding nationally.
Localities and governments from across the country are all competing for those funds. The competition is so fierce, in fact, that federal administrators are looking at $192 billion in requests.
Kaine says there are a number of factors working in Richmond's favor- it's proximity to D.C., bipartisan support in the region, influence from the northeast, as well as agreements reached with area freight carriers.
The state's top lawmakers still adds, "this doesn't mean that's it's automatic."
A Richmond-D.C. corridor, which would include a spur route to Hampton Roads, has a price tag of $1.6 billion.
That cost estimate incorporates a combination of current rail upgrades, in addition to the building of new lines.
Federal funds will pay for infrastructure improvements, but then who fits the bill for the day-to-day operation of high speed rail?
Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer told CBS 6 the state will likely cover the expenses by utilizing a proven strategy- extending Amtrak lines already in service from D.C.
"We would be responsible for funding the incremental costs of those operations," explained Homer, " which is substantially cheaper than paying for new lines."
Regular residents, meanwhile, are holding out hope the high speed rail situation gets resolved.
"I do business in D.C., Baltimore and Philly," declared rider James Ireland. "I think my wife and kids would appreciate it the most- I'd have more time to spend with them."
On Tuesday morning, Governor Tim Kaine set out to convince the skeptics that this time the Commonwealth will seal the deal.
"We cannot grow as a community in the way we need to," asserted Kaine, "purely off of I-95. We have to have more real options to be all that we can be."
Those options have infinitely expanded with the passing of the stimulus bill. The unprecedented legislation appropriates $8 billion for high speed rail funding nationally.
Localities and governments from across the country are all competing for those funds. The competition is so fierce, in fact, that federal administrators are looking at $192 billion in requests.
Kaine says there are a number of factors working in Richmond's favor- it's proximity to D.C., bipartisan support in the region, influence from the northeast, as well as agreements reached with area freight carriers.
The state's top lawmakers still adds, "this doesn't mean that's it's automatic."
A Richmond-D.C. corridor, which would include a spur route to Hampton Roads, has a price tag of $1.6 billion.
That cost estimate incorporates a combination of current rail upgrades, in addition to the building of new lines.
Federal funds will pay for infrastructure improvements, but then who fits the bill for the day-to-day operation of high speed rail?
Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer told CBS 6 the state will likely cover the expenses by utilizing a proven strategy- extending Amtrak lines already in service from D.C.
"We would be responsible for funding the incremental costs of those operations," explained Homer, " which is substantially cheaper than paying for new lines."
Regular residents, meanwhile, are holding out hope the high speed rail situation gets resolved.
"I do business in D.C., Baltimore and Philly," declared rider James Ireland. "I think my wife and kids would appreciate it the most- I'd have more time to spend with them."
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