WASHINGTON — Virginia Passenger Rail Authority officials will seek $829 million in federal funding for the project to build a new bridge over the Potomac River, a key portion of the plan to greatly expand passenger rail service by creating separate passenger and freight main lines south of Washington.
But the Washington Post reports that, while the first contract for the new $2.3 billion companion to the Long Bridge across the Potomac is expected to be awarded this year, delays are possible if the state is unable to close a $729 million funding gap.
The authority is seeking federal funding through two grant programs, with executive director DJ Stadtler saying, “Our program is ready to go, so this is an opportunity for the feds to make an investment that shows immediate return.”
The first work scheduled is a pile-driving project this fall to test soil conditions ahead of the bridge work, while the first contract to be awarded will be for replacement of three rail bridges and a pedestrian bridge on the District of Columbia side of the river, as well as a new rail bridge over Interstate 395. The contract for the construction of the Potomac bridge itself is expected to be awarded next year.
CSX Transportation will retain ownership of the existing double-track Long Bridge, which currently operates at 98% of capacity with both freight and passenger traffic, under the agreement announced in 2019 and finalized in 2021 [see “Virginia, CSX announce major rail infrastructure plan,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 20, 2019, and “Rail and transportation officials sign agreement …,” News Wire, March 30, 2021]. When the new bridge is built, it would become freight-only while the state would own the new two-track bridge, to be used by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express commuter trains. It could also make possible the the oft-discussed prospect of through running into Virginia for Maryland’s MARC commuter trains [see “MARC considers expansions to Delaware, Virginia,” News Wire, May 26, 2023].
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