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[CNJRoss]

Virginians for High Speed Rail email, 1/21:

 

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Dear Ross:

The Commonwealth's Amtrak Regional trains are under attack at the Virginia General Assembly!

A piece of legislation has been introduced, HB 2275, that pillages funding from Virginia's Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund and diverts it elsewhere. If this happens all six of our Regional trains are at risk, as well as any future improvement and expansions of service.

Click here to help us protect our passenger trains! Visit our action page to let your legislators know you oppose HB 2275.

Virginia’s Amtrak Regional trains serve:
•    76.8 percent of Virginia’s population;
•    82 percent of our jobs and economy;
•    83.3 percent of our higher education students;
•    9.2 percent of our Country’s armed forces.

Changing the purpose of IPROC could greatly jeopardize:
•    The continued operation of Virginia’s Amtrak Regional trains;
•    The expansion of Amtrak Regional service to Roanoke;
•    The expansion of Amtrak Regional trains 2 and 3 to Norfolk and Petersburg;
•    The expansion of Amtrak Regional train 2 to Lynchburg and Charlottesville;
•    The Newport News and Piedmont Amtrak Regional rail improvements;
•    And, the further expansion of Amtrak Regional train 3 to Williamsburg and Newport News; as well as Amtrak Regional trains 4, 5, and 6 to Petersburg and South Hampton Roads.
•    The construction of higher speed passenger rail connecting Washington, Richmond, and Hampton Roads!

Please take a minute to visit our action page and let your members of the General Assembly know that you oppose HB 2275!

Thanks,

Danny Plaugher
Executive Director

PS: Also visit us online at www.vhsr.com/help to learn about other ways to help us make fast, frequent, and reliable rail service a reality!

 

[CNJRoss]

Virginians for High Speed Rail email, 1/27:

 

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Dear Ross:

 

I wanted to thank you for helping to protect funding for Virginia's Amtrak Regional trains! HB 2275, which amended the purpose of Virginia's Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund, could have had some very negative consequences for the future of Virginia's Amtrak Regional trains and our efforts to sustain, improve, and expand intercity passenger rail service across Virginia.

However, over 1,700 emails, letters, phone calls, and meetings later the legislation was stricken by the bill's patron at today's House of Delegate's Transportation Committee meeting.

A lot of credit also goes to our coalition partners at the Southern Environmental Law Center, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Public Transportation Alliance, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Conservation Network, City of Norfolk, and Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce who all came out in opposition to this bill.

Thank you for your support!

Thanks,

Danny Plaugher
Executive Director

PS: Also visit us online at www.vhsr.com/donate to donate to our work promoting and protecting Virginia's intercity passenger rail trains!