The Roanoker May/June 2023 - 117

LEFT TO RIGHT:
Roanoke's Starline Trolley runs between Carilion Roanoke Memorial
Hospital and Roanoke City Market and is relatively heavily traveled.
Roanoke's new bus station.
Amtrak's Roanoke stop is part of the Northeast Regional Route, with easy
access to destinations like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York and Boston.
service since
it was re-instituted
here in 2017 with service to
Washington D.C. and the northeast
corridor, then upgraded with a second train
leaving the Valley in 2022. With the two
trains serving the area, Gercia Goodman of
the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority says,
" Virginians are continually turning to the train
to escape traffic, and travel in a cost-effective,
comfortable way. "
There are estimates that Roanoke can double
to 10,000 its monthly passenger trips in
the near future. Roanoke's traffic was recently
determined to have the most significant
increase in the Commonwealth, up 65%.
Executive Director D.J. Stadtler of Virginia
Passenger Rail Authority says launching the
second passenger train out of Roanoke was
necessary: " We launched the second roundtrip
to Roanoke because we knew there was a
market for the additional service. And, the
immense success we have seen over the first
few months just proves that Virginians are
looking for an alternative to traffic, and they
are increasingly turning to rail. "
Indeed, between December 2021 and
December 2022, with the addition of the
second train in July, passenger traffic out of
Roanoke increased a total of 90%.
The Washington Post recently wrote that
" the quest to get more residents on trains
has earned Virginia accolades and a national
TheRoanoker.com
spotlight, particularly
as new transportation
priorities in Washington
elevate multimodal travel with an eye on
reducing greenhouse emissions. [Former]
Gov. Ralph Northam signed a $3.7 billion
bill with Amtrak [which serves Roanoke]
and two freight haulers " with a goal of separating
freight and passenger traffic. Amtrak
is expected to contribute about $1 billion to
the program and commit to operating for at
least 30 years.
Passenger service, especially when combined
with other modes, has become quite
popular in Roanoke. Roanoke business consultant
Patti Lucas says, " Because air travel
from Roanoke is more expensive and almost
always requires a layover, I have started taking
the Amtrak train to D.C. This is cost-effective
because I have a credit card that earns hotel
rooms, so I can take the 4 p.m. train for a
leisurely ride that costs less than the gas and
parking, spend the night in a free room and
catch a direct flight.
" I've been to Boston and Seattle recently
that way and saved a decent amount doing it.
We're going to do it again in May for an international
flight. Because the train in the front
end feels
much different
than at the end of the trip,
the Seattle trip was a multi-city flight
(D.C. to Seattle, then Seattle to Roanoke) and
it was still cheaper. "
Shelly Maycock of Christiansburg, combines
access for trips to the Northeast, taking
the Smart Bus to Roanoke, where she catches
the train. " It's very early in the morning, and
it takes hours, but I get work done. It's easier
than flying. The food on the cafe car is fine and
reasonable. I like the freedom to move around
and ease of boarding. I have flown economy
recently out of Dulles and Baltimore which has
been hectic, long walking distances and long
waits in line, but mostly pleasant. I've learned
to pack light and enjoy the people watching
and the journey. "
The challenges are considerable for a midsized
city and its environs, but the interest in
finding workable solutions has rarely been
higher or more organized. I
May/June 2023 117
DAN SMITH
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker May/June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker May/June 2023
