Investment in infrastructure will unleash Virginia’s economy
The Department of Transportation must leverage our investments, prioritize public-private partnerships and innovative new technology
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Virginians have been social-distancing, wearing masks, working from home and limiting transportation, both public and private, as much as possible. While the pandemic has taken a financial, physical and emotional toll upon the commonwealth, Virginia still ranks in the top 10 states to do business. We are primed for explosive economic growth as life returns to normal. But as our lives go back to normal, so too will our commutes.
That means we have a decision to make. We can do nothing, slow rolling our recovery, or we can unleash Virginia’s economic potential with robust yet strategic investment in Virginia’s infrastructure. I support the latter, which is why I recently authored a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg outlining some of Virginia’s unique infrastructure priorities.
As a commuter myself, I know this starts by addressing congestion along the I-95 corridor. Virginia has already made the investments necessary to do so. Now, the Department of Transportation must leverage those investments as well as prioritize public-private partnerships and innovative new technologies.
One of the most straightforward but essential approaches to reducing traffic along I-95 is simply getting cars off the road. We can do so through commuter rail. Long Bridge, spanning the Potomac River between Virginia and Washington, D.C., serves as a critical gateway between the southeast and northeast rail networks. Many constituents of Virginia’s First District rely upon VRE and Amtrak to commute to D.C., and both services cross Long
Bridge, as it is the only railroad bridge connecting Virginia to D.C. This makes it the most significant passenger and freight rail chokepoint on the east coast.
In December 2019, Virginia and CSX announced a landmark agreement, including a
$3.7 billion investment in a new Virginia-owned Long Bridge, with dedicated tracks for passenger and commuter rail. As a requirement for this project to proceed, Virginia needed to acquire land from the National Park Service. Fortunately, my bill, The Long Bridge Act of 2020, was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, allowing for the necessary transfer of National Park Service lands to the commonwealth of Virginia for the Long Bridge Project.
Additionally, traffic along I-64 is just as much of an economic drag as I-95. The I-64 corridor connects the economic and military hub of Hampton Roads to the rest of Virginia, allowing residents to commute daily and providing easy access to tourist attractions throughout the region. The I-64 Peninsula Widening Project in the Hampton Roads area will increase vehicle capacity and immediately relieve congestion along with one of the most heavily traveled highways in Virginia. We need to now include the section of I-64 from Bottoms Bridge to the Rt 199 exit for widening. Getting this project funded is key to relieving traffic and making this stretch safer.
In addition to reducing traffic, one of the largest and busiest ports on the eastern seaboard, the Port of Virginia must urgently deepen, widen and expand its channels. Every year, the port is responsible for more than 400,000 jobs and $92 billion in spending across Virginia, representing more than 7.5% of our total economic output.
The deepening and widening of Norfolk Harbor not only ensures the continued safe and timely passage of larger commercial vessels but also military vessels through Norfolk Harbor. In other words, the safety of one of Virginia’s largest economic engines is at stake, and the rapid growth of larger vessels entering maritime trade requires this project to proceed as quickly as possible.
Public and private interests have already invested billions of dollars in landslide infrastructure and are prepared to provide their share of the cost to complete this crucial navigation project. To remain on schedule, the Norfolk Harbor and Channel Project require a New Start Designation and robust federal investment to fully fund the Inner Harbor Contract and match the non-federal cost share. Federal investment in this project would allow the port to remain the national economic hub it is today, generating more than $78 million in annual national economic development benefits.
Virginia’s economy is ready for a comeback, the likes of which we have never seen. I look forward to working with Secretary Buttigieg to strengthen our roadways, waterways, rail systems and airports in order to make that comeback a reality.
RICHMOND — There were some consolations for William & Mary on Saturday in its 21-14 season-opening loss to Richmond in a Colonial Athletic Association game at Robins Stadium.
The defense was stout at times. The offense rebounded nicely in the second half from a horrid first 30 minutes, led by stretches of brilliance by sophomore quarterback Hollis Mathis.
And, in a season when the Tribe will play three CAA opponents twice, they get a shot at redemption against their arch rival on April 10 in Williamsburg.
That’s a lot shorter wait than the 469 days Savon Smith and his Richmond teammates endured after falling 21-15 to the Tribe in overtime at Robins the last time either team played.
“We’ve been wanting to do this ever since the last time we played them and we lost,” he said after the Spiders knotted the South’s “most played rivalry” at 63-63-5. “We saw them cheering and dancing on our field.
“We just knew we had to get the (Capital Cup) back and show out.”
Smith scored a 2-point conversion on a pass from Joe Mancuso after the Richmond quarterback threw 6 yards to tight end John Fitzgerald for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 5 minutes and 36 seconds to play. W&M had rallied from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to take a one-point lead before Mancuso and the Spiders marched 77 yards on 14 plays for the decisive score.
The urgency to which Smith referred was the catalyst for Richmond’s control of the first 2 ½ quarters, although the Tribe had the first good scoring opportunity, thanks to a recovery of a fumbled punt. Mathis (18-of-28 passing, 204 yards) completed a 15-yard pass to Zach Burdick at the Spiders’ 21 after the recovery.
But W&M gained just three yards to the 18 in its next three plays, and Tribe
coach Mike London disdained a field-goal attempt because of wind conditions. When linebacker Tristan Wheeler stopped Mathis for no gain on fourth down, the Spiders seized the momentum for the next two quarters.
Following Wheeler’s stop, Mancuso completed all five pass attempts, for 62 yards, on a 12-play, 82-yard touchdown drive. His flair pass to running back Aaron Dykes gave the Spiders a 7-0 lead with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.
“He’s one of the better quarterbacks in the conference,” London said. “He did a great job executing their offense.”
The Richmond defense, led up front by All-American candidate Kobie Turner and York High product Darius Reynolds, limited the Tribe to just 81 yards in the first half.
Completions of 20 and 18 yards early in the second half by Mancuso (15-of-27 passing, 141 yards, two TDs) set up Dykes’ 6-yard TD run to give the Spiders a 13-0 lead, and the contest was looking one-sided.
But Mathis and the Tribe offense hit their stride, responding with a 78-yard touchdown drive. Mathis’ 29-yard completion to Burdick began the nineplay drive and his 19-yard rollout to the end zone capped it, closing the gap to 13-7.
Following Richmond’s early second-half touchdown, the W&M defense — led by linebacker Trey Watkins (12 tackles) — caught fire and forced three consecutive three-and-outs. After the third, the Tribe took the ball over in good field position at midfield, made better by Mathis’ 45-yard completion to Illinois State transfer Cole Blackman (five receptions, 89 yards) on a slant.
That led to Mathis’ 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Mague. Freshman Ethan Chang kicked the point-after to give the Tribe a 14-13 lead with 11:56 to play in the fourth quarter.
Richmond responded with balance, seven runs and seven passes, on the decisive touchdown drive. Smith ran for 18 yards to set up Mancuso’s TD pass to Fitzgerald. Then, after the Spiders forced a Tribe punt, Smith clinched the outcome with a 14-yard run for a first down.
“Obviously, we didn’t play well enough to win the game,” W&M coach Mike London said. “We didn’t play four quarters.
“They executed and we did not. They deserve the credit.”