Passenger Rail Service in Roanoke: The Time is Now

I think this is one everybody can agree on: bring back passenger rail service to Roanoke! I and many others have had this desire when throwing our hats into the political scene. Once in that scene, however, the picture gets pretty confusing and daunting. This is not just a simple matter. Many before have tried to conquer this task which includes bringing groups with different goals together and lots of money. The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission has worked on this issue as have various economic partnerships. Many politicians have been involved. The most recent attempts- over the last many years- have resulted in the Trans Dominion Express coalition. There have been many surveys (all remarkably supportive- especially recent ones of potential riders), economic and cost analysis reports.

If there ever was a time to strongly revisit this issue- it is now! With gas prices soaring, inflation and other economic woes, a growing elderly demographic with their own transportation needs- not to mention green initiatives/needs and our little traffic problem on I-81- something must be done.

The City of Lynchburg appears to have had success in this area. They have had passenger rail service to DC but now, mostly due to the efforts of grassroot organizations, appear to be slated for increased schedules. It has been said that the same cost to improve their schedule could get Roanoke a start- an intermittent service to Lynchburg and on to DC. I am in favor of at least getting that start. The Trans Dominion Express is a great concept and probably was ahead of it’s time. However starting grand in this economy and with all the trouble Virginia is having with transportation funding,  small steps may be the wisest move and may help show where the needs are. Given the economy, and not to mention business travel and how they are looking for fiscally responsible alternatives, a link from Roanoke to Lynchburg and beyond may be a fantastic start. The economic models produced by the Trans Dominion Express group and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission are all mostly positive for rail service out of Roanoke and most do not incorporate business travel into their computations.

In addition to a strong grassroot effort in Lynchburg, another reason they appear to be successful is that passenger rail service has been a high priority of their Chamber of Commerce. I believe Roanoke needs a similar strategy and I challenge our Chamber, the newly developed Economic Partnership and any other new or old re-energized grass roots effort to partner with the City, elected leaders and the Regional Commission to begin a hard lobbying effort for a “start” at passenger rail service in Roanoke.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transport is starting public hearings on its Statewide Rail Plan this month. They really really need to hear from Roanoke citizens and elected leaders alike. The public hearing in our area is on July 24th at the Salem Civic Center at 6pm. You can contact Jennifer Pickett at 1-804-786-7432 or Jennifer.Pickett@DRPT.Virginia.gov for more information. I would be more than happy in my role on Council and on the Regional Commission to help coordinate the efforts of any groups willing to be active on this issue and I am certainly aware that there are people and groups out there that know more than I - I am willing to learn and listen to those groups to better push this effort.

YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTACT ME!

Check Out Our Forum to Discuss the Issues

As many of you have noticed there has been a lot of dialog going on regarding some of the issues that have been addressed.  I have recently added a forum to this site in hopes that everyone can join in on the discussions and voice their opinions and suggestions.

You can access the forum by selecting the tab at the top of the page or at the bottom of the left column.  You are required to register by selecting a user name and password.  The register link is at the top of the forum page. You will then login after you register. 

You can use the forum to comment on a post or start a new post.  You will notice that there are 3 categories, Municiple Issues, Media Interviews and Hot Topics.  Feel free to add any topic for discussion under these categories. There is also a poll area where we can poll subscribers and you can see the real time results.

I have started a new topic for discussion under the Municple Issues regarding Countryside.  There is also a poll question regarding the purchase by the city.  I encourage you to continue the comments and discussion in our new forum.

If you have any questions or problems regarding the forum please direct them to info@davetrinkle.com.  I hope you find this means of dialog helpful and I look forward to your feedback.

Dave

Countryside- A Great City Purchase or Not?

The purchase of Countryside golf course several years ago and the ensuing discussions about its fate represent a lot of good and bad about Roanoke politics in my mind. The City of Roanoke’s Housing plan and initiatives, strongly led by our city manager, are bold and make a lot of sense to me. Roanoke is attempting to diversify its housing options and wherever possible mix in low income housing with other types of housing. The concept is not to isolate low income housing and not to just increase low income housing as the only growing housing option in our city. This does not mean low income housing is discouraged, quite the contrary- it will continue to be needed, just needs to be approached by developers in a different, more diverse manner.

 

Roanoke is land locked with very little developable land left in our 43 square mile territory. The concept behind the Countryside purchase (before my time on council) was to obtain land that could then be used to increase our housing stock- especially for middle income range housing but to also have diversity of housing options within the development. Request for Proposals (RFPs) were announced. Initially, there was a lot of interest. Then there was only one potential taker but as that developer tried to make the project work financially, the project changed in scope. Additional land purchases were required, it became more commercial with more rental units and really not at all in keeping with the original intent. Ultimately, the project for this developer could not go forward. There has been little to no interest since then. Roanoke has continued to hire the current golf course  management company for one more year.

 

This “additional year” is quickly coming to a close and council has asked the city administration to prepare a briefing on viable near term and long term options for this beautiful piece of property. The briefing has properly been delayed until new council members come on board. The briefing will occur in August- probably at our first meeting of the month on August 4th..

 

There are countless possibilities for this property. In my opinion, we appropriately tested the market for a large housing complex and it didn’t work. Maybe, in hindsight, we shouldn’t have bought the property- though it is a great piece of land and who knows what would happen to it if we didn’t buy it.

 

As you have hopefully read in my other postings- I believe quality of life amenities are key to our economic future. Therefore, I like many of the possible future uses for this property that are consistent with this strategy. Certainly at this point, I support keeping the attractive 18 hole course and would strongly consider management options that may help it be more profitable while providing solid maintenance and upkeep. Perhaps the course can become an incentive for those who live in the city- reduced fees, certain number of free fees, etc. Other short term options may be an athletic field complex. Much of the area could remain green with greenway additions. Some of the land is very suitable for housing projects while keeping the course- perhaps one house at a time in this economy. Some of the land that abuts I-581 and private property is ripe for commercial development especially if the Valley View interchange is improved. Longer term options could include improved indoor tennis facilities and a much needed competitive aquatic center for our region.

 

The good about all this is the City of Roanoke made a bold decision, stuck with a housing plan, tested the market and now most consider different options- one of which, of course, could be to just sell the property as is without any constraints. We are now faced with a different set of possible uses- some of which may be better than the original intent. The bad in my mind is that this discussion has been going on far too long and has impacted those who live in the area and have lived with uncertainty for many years. One worry, historically based, is that with long discussions and debates the bold option gets whittled to a mediocre option not at all in keeping with original intent and thus doomed for failure. Lets hope this summer and fall, Roanoke City Council can enter into good and meaningful discussions with public input but reach a decision for this property in a timely manner with clear, bold short term and long term plans that will improve the economic vitality for Roanoke for many years to come. We need to develop a strategic plan for the area that takes us many years down the road.

 

The decision is coming, so help out—-What are your thoughts???