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84% of the time they travel there by car, and more than 2/3's (66.6%) said they would • use rail as an alternative if a speedy rail line were available, and WHEREAS, the relocation of more of the Federal Government's national security activity from the Washington area into Albemarle County, the increase in the extent and national reputation of the University's healthcare and research activities, the rising cost of oil and the environmental concerns brought on by carbon based emissions, have heightened the interest in alternatives to the automobile, and WHEREAS, recognizing Charlottesville as an underserved market, Amtrak has recommended to VDRPT that steps be taken to implement new Lynchburg to Washington rail service "as soon as possible" — including any capital improvements needed to the existing rail line by the host railroad, and WHEREAS, Amtrak reports that the addition of a second daily train can be accomplished easily and at a relatively low cost, and WHEREAS, the Route 29 passenger rail corridor is significantly under -served compared to the I-95 corridor (where the State has made massive investments for rail infrastructure and operations), having fewer than one-half the weekly service of Newport News and one-sixth the weekly service of Richmond, and WHEREAS, an application for State Rail Enhancement Funds (REF) for capital • investments in the corridor in support of the proposed new Amtrak passenger service has been developed by Norfolk Southern Railroad and is included in the list of projects recommended by VDRPT for inclusion in the State's 2009-2014 Six Year Improvement Program, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council urges the VDRPT to include enhanced passenger rail service for the US29 (Piedmont) Corridor in the State Rail Plan, specifically the proposed new daily direct service between Lynchburg and Washington, DC and on to New York and Boston, as proposed by Amtrak, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council urges the Commonwealth Transportation Board to approve DRPT's recommended REF funding needed for infrastructure investments to support new passenger service in the corridor, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council requests that DRPT identify the US29 corridor as the state's top priority for funding new rail service according to Amtrak's recommended Short Term Action Plan for Advancing Passenger Rail in the Commonwealth. Approved by Council May 5, 2008 LJ CI of City Council