APPENDIX H

RESOLUTION OF THE 

COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD
Agenda item #14

RESOLUTION

OF THE

COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD

December 6, 2017

MOTION

Made by: Mr. Brown, Seconded by: Ms. Valentine

Action: Motion Carried, Unanimously

Title: Recommendation of a Preferred Alternative for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted Recommended 

Alternative A-Plus (see Attachment A), as set forth in the Study Area Alternatives 

Recommendation Report for the Southeast High Speed Rail Tier I Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement, dated March 5, 2002 which was subsequently adopted by the Federal Railroad 

Administration in the Tier I Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision; and,

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), in 

conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration, have continued to further the effort of 

implementing higher speed passenger rail service within the Southeast Rail Corridor by 

developing the Washington, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail (DC2RVA) project, a 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement to identify a preferred alternative within the selected 

123- mile corridor between Washington, D.C. and Richmond; and,

WHEREAS, DRPT conducted significant public and stakeholder involvement for the 

DC2RVA project including direct mail, newspaper advertisements, project website and social 

media campaigns, ten public meetings, five formal public hearings, and multiple local meetings

and workshops; and, 

WHEREAS, the DC2RVA Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement that evaluated 

multiple alternatives in six Alternative Areas along the CSX Transportation corridor between 

Washington, D.C. and Richmond was published on September 8, 2017 and was followed by a 

60-day public comment period; and,

WHEREAS, DRPT included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement a 

recommended preferred alternative for Alternative Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the DC2RVA study 

corridor as shown in Attachment B; and,
Resolution of the Board

Recommendation of a Preferred Alternative 

for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

December 6, 2017

Page Two 

WHEREAS, DRPT limited the footprint of potential construction activities for 

DC2RVA project alternatives at Main Street Station, located in the Shockoe Bottom area of 

Richmond, in order to avoid and/or limit any potential impacts after evaluating, in a manner 

consistent with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources guidelines, and per the process set 

forth in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the cultural resources in 

the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond; and,

WHEREAS, DRPT has relied on a broad array of historical research to inform its layout 

of the DC2RVA improvements and to summarize available historical research and assets 

associated with the Shockoe Bottom slave trade, including areas for future slavery museums and 

memorials, five known archaeological sites, scholarly research on the Shockoe Bottom slave 

trade, current public commentary, and possible locations for additional historical and 

archaeological research and preservation, all to be summarized in a separate chapter of the Final 

Environmental Impact Statement as supplemental information that may be beneficial to future 

public and private decisions and actions in the Shockoe Bottom area; and,

WHEREAS, recognizing the unique nature of the region and concerns from the 

community over Draft EIS alternatives in Alternative Area 5 as shown in Attachment B, DRPT 

convened the Town of Ashland/Hanover County Community Advisory Committee, to take a 

more intensive look at all rail options that could meet the purpose and need of the DC2RVA 

project, while also minimizing or avoiding any potential impacts of those options; and,

WHEREAS, DRPT briefed the Commonwealth Transportation Board on DRPT’s 

recommendation at its October 23, 2017 Workshop meeting and at its November 9, 2017 Rail 

Committee meeting on the outcome of the CAC process, being the following three leastobjectionable alternatives for Alternative Area 5: maintain two tracks through the town of 

Ashland (5A), add a two-track west bypass (AWB1, previously screened out), and add a threetrack trench through the Town of Ashland (variation of tunnel option previously screened out).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commonwealth Transportation 

Board recommends to Federal Railroad Administration the following preferred alternative for 

inclusion in the forthcoming Rail Alignment Recommendation Report, Final Environmental 

Impact Statement and Record of Decision, in concurrence with DRPT’s recommendation, in the 

following areas of the DC2RVA study corridor, as shown in Attachment B: Alternative Area 1-

1A, 1B, or 1C; Alternative Area 2-2A; Alternative Area 3-3B; Alternative Area 4-4A; 

Alternative Area 5-5A; Alternative Area 6-6F.
Resolution of the Board

Recommendation of a Preferred Alternative 

for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

December 6, 2017

Page Three

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the recommended preferred alternative for 

Alternative Area 1 (Arlington) will include the retention of all three alternatives 1A, 1B and 1C 

until after completion of the Long Bridge Tier II Environmental Impact Statement, whereby one 

of the three retained alternatives will be selected as the recommended preferred alternative based 

on compatibility with the Long Bridge Tier II Environmental Impact Statement preferred 

alternative.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Commonwealth Transportation Board on the 

recommendation of DRPT determines that additional rail capacity is needed in Alternative Area 

5 to meet the performance standards required for additional passenger trains, DRPT shall

conduct a new study based on updated information, including but not limited to future freight 

volumes, land uses, and capacity needs within the overall rail network. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commonwealth Transportation Board hereby 

directs DRPT to avoid and/or minimize any permanent property acquisitions, to the extent 

practicable, in areas where only two mainline tracks on the current alignment are recommended, 

and to avoid any permanent property acquisitions related to the DC2RVA project that would 

affect the operations of Randolph-Macon College.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Commonwealth Transportation Board hereby

directs DRPT to explore the need for other potential improvements in downtown Ashland 

(Alternative Area 5) that will help protect the safety of motorized and non-motorized roadway 

users, and to facilitate emergency access.

# # #
Resolution of the Board

Recommendation of a Preferred Alternative 

for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

December 6, 2017

Page Four

Attachment A 

Excerpt from Record of Decision for the Tier I Southeast High Speed Rail Project

November 20, 2002
Resolution of the Board

Recommendation of a Preferred Alternative 

for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

December 6, 2017

Page Five

Attachment B

Description of DRPT’s Recommended Preferred Alternative for DC2RVA