A press release from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation; June 28, 2018:
Commonwealth Announces Grand Opening of Staples Mill Parking Project
~ 587 Spaces Now Available as Commonwealth Expands Parking and Multi-Modal Access at the Southeast’s Busiest Passenger Rail Station ~
RICHMOND, Va. – Today, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced the completion of parking improvements at Amtrak’s Richmond Staples Mill Road Station (RVR). The Staples Mill Station serves as the main station for the Richmond region and is the busiest not only in Virginia but the entire southeast. Sixteen daily trains, including ten Virginia-sponsored Northeast Regional trains, utilize the station on a daily basis, and in 2017, a daily average of over a thousand passengers got on and off at the station.
This project adds 299 new parking spaces for passenger rail customers, for a total of 587, a new rear entrance off Bremner Boulevard, bike racks, taxi/ride-share parking, and ADA parking spaces at the suburban Henrico County station.
“The completion of this project is indicative of the Commonwealth’s commitment to providing our citizens more reliable travel options. Adding 299 spaces will help boost ridership as passengers will have a dependable parking lot to use,” said DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell, “In addition, these additional parking spaces not only enhance the Amtrak customer experience but ensure better connectivity to local public transportation and economic opportunities for Virginians.”
The $8.5 million project, which broke ground in August 2017, was fully funded by DRPT, and VDOT provided construction oversight. Virginia is one of only 18 states to fund state-supported Amtrak routes which is made possible through dedicated passenger rail funds.
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About the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)
DRPT’s mission is to improve the mobility of people and goods while expanding transportation choices in the Commonwealth through rail, public transportation, and commuter services. DRPT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color, or national origin as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.