The Central Virginia Rail Economic Study is a forward-looking effort to unlock new economic potential throughout Lynchburg, Virginia, and nearby counties through strategic investments in passenger and freight rail. Commissioned by Virginia’s General Assembly and led by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in partnership with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the study aims to promote regional growth, improve mobility and support long-term development. The analysis offers a framework to guide future rail improvements across the Commonwealth by showing how targeted investments can boost local industries, attract tourism and improve overall quality of life.
STV was chosen to lead the development of this transformative study, applying a rigorous multicriteria analysis to evaluate five rail opportunity concepts – three freight and two passenger. The team integrated economic modeling, regional demographic and land use data to assess short- and long-term impacts. STV’s work included a detailed economic forecast for potential infrastructure projects and identified funding strategies to support implementation. Additionally, STV’s outreach and engagement strategy experts helped translate technical information into a highly visual summary for the Virginia General Assembly, which helped in building understanding and buy-in for the program.
The study’s transparent, data-driven methodology positions it as a crucial planning tool for DRPT and sets a precedent for economic rail studies elsewhere in Virginia.
