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useful for the business traveler or for a day trip to Washington, D.C., having a 7:43 a.m. departure from Lynchburg <br />• and 11:20 a.m. arrival in Washington, and <br />WHEREAS, according to DRPT, "...the actual schedule for the new trains was developed based on the available <br />time slots for new trains to be added in each corridor and compatibility with Amtrak Northeast Corridor service <br />schedules, as defined in the agreements executed with the applicable host railroads and Amtrak.", and <br />WHEREAS, with the approved schedule, the Lynchburg -DC train will add to the rail options available for <br />recreational travelers and others making extended stays, but will perpetuate the existing situation wherein passenger <br />rail is of limited utility to the business, professional, academic, government and defense -related sectors of the <br />Charlottesville and Central Virginia region, and will not serve the citizens of the US29 corridor who would choose <br />the train for a day -trip to Washington, D.C. if an early morning arrival were available, and <br />WHEREAS, in order to demonstrate success and to justify future investments in the corridor, the ridership for the <br />Lynchburg -DC train must materialize, <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council urges VDRPT to closely monitor <br />ridership performance of the Lynchburg -DC train, providing origin and destination figures during the first year to <br />determine if it is meeting expectations, as well as support the conduct of a comprehensive, valid market study to <br />determine if a peak hour schedule, such as the schedule originally published by Amtrak, would result in greater use <br />of the service, as well as generate additional revenue, and <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council urges Governor Kaine, <br />Secretary Homer and the VDRPT to do everything within the state of Virginia's legal power and authority to <br />negotiate additional, peak hour slots in Northern Virginia, including an appeal with the Surface Transportation <br />Board, if necessary, to mediate additional access for this and future trains serving the US29 corridor. <br />• Approved by Council <br />September 9, 2009 <br />le of City Council <br />• <br />