
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 3, 1995                   TAG: 9508030019
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

GROUP URGES STUDY ON SITE FOR RAIL STATION

An advisory group to the New River Planning District Commission is recommending a study be conducted of the best sites for a passenger rail station in the New River Valley.

At a meeting Tuesday, the advisory group recommended the commission amend its budget to provide roughly $14,000 in funding for the study's first phase.

Preliminary results of a May study conducted for the Virginia Department of Rail Transportation indicate that new passenger rail service between Bristol and Richmond and Washington, D.C., would be economically feasible. If the General Assembly decides to go ahead with the service, it could be operating by 2000, either under the management of Amtrak or the state.

The state study, however, calls for all train stations west of Roanoke to be unmanned with automated ticket machines. The New River advisory group thinks, however, that a properly located manned station could be a good front door for visitors to the valley. Conducting the station study will demonstrate the region's commitment to passenger-rail service, planning district commission member Vince Stover said.

The first phase of the study, which will include developing a map of potential sites and public hearings, will be conducted by the Community Design Group of Charlottesville. The design group is associated with the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University. The group developed a station plan for the city of Fredericksburg.

by CNB