Virginia rail department chooses HDR for environmental study

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation has selected HDR to provide a Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed high-speed passenger-rail service between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va.

HDR will complete preliminary engineering and Tier II environmental review for the project corridor, which runs parallel to Interstate 95 between Arlington, Va., and the Richmond area. The project is funded through a $55 million cooperative agreement between the Virginia department and Federal Railroad Administration, according to a press release.

To accommodate rail service with speeds up to 90 mph along the corridor, the EIS will consider improvements such as corridor-wide track and signal upgrades including curve realignments, high-speed crossovers and grade crossing improvements; track improvements and additional track in multiple sections of the existing track; and station and platform upgrades, including new platform design.

HDR's services will include passenger service development planning, stakeholder involvement, environmental analysis, ridership and revenue estimating and both conceptual and preliminary engineering. The EIS preparation is expected to take 36 months.