Virginia panel approves rail grant, solicits FY2020 grant applications

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) yesterday approved a Rail Industrial Access grant worth $231,810 to Superb Solutions for You Inc. to support its new rail-served facility in Sussex County.

The company is a startup manufacturer of environmentally friendly water treatment chemicals that mitigate harmful agricultural waste, purify drinking water and treat wastewater, according to a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) press release.

The $2.3 million facility will enable the firm to import raw materials and export finished product by rail. Superb Solutions has committed to transporting 260 rail carloads annually. The 2-mile track rehabilitation is expected to remove 884 trucks from Virginia highways per year, DRPT officials said.

Meanwhile, DRPT has opened its grant application cycle for fiscal-year 2020. Prospective rail and public transportation grantees may submit funding requests until Feb. 1, 2019. The applications must be submitted online vial the OLGA application portal.

The application period marks the first year that the CTB will implement its new project-based prioritization process for the state's transit capital program known as Making Efficient and Responsible Investments in Transit (MERIT). The General Assembly adopted the MERIT process this year.

In addition, all passenger-rail applications will be evaluated on their ability to meet goals in the 2017 statewide rail plan; support or advance design related to Long Bridge or the DC2RVA high-speed rail plan; and enhance existing statewide passenger-rail services.

For more information, click on the link to the notice of funding availability for the Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Program.