Transportation initiatives in Virginia highlighted at summit held at Alliance

Barry Butler, director of government relations at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, said the organization has been working on broadening the scope of the summit to encompass a variety of infrastructure elements beyond transportation. This includes critical areas such as roads, bridges, overpasses, pipes, energy infrastructure and broadband.

“We are well-prepared, thanks to a powerful task force that has assembled a comprehensive agenda for today’s summit,” Butler said. “The event features prominent speakers from transportation, the business community and regional planning, along with breakout sessions led by experts and private sector representatives. These sessions will provide the latest updates on freight and passenger rail, air service, road and transit projects, energy infrastructure, broadband expansion, as well as water and sewer projects and upgrades.”

The summit addressed the current status and future developments in these key infrastructure sectors.

Sheppard “Shep” Miller, secretary of transportation for Virginia, delivered a keynote address at the summit, focusing on the vital role of transportation infrastructure in the state’s economic development.

Miller, a former businessman turned public servant, spoke on the diverse portfolio of Virginia’s transportation department, managing everything from roads and bridges to rail, aviation and even spaceports.

He said transportation and economic development are interconnected, stating that transportation infrastructure is crucial for the state’s competitiveness.

Addressing the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Miller said Virginia’s responsive transportation systems played a role in assisting the city.

“We took a lot of their cargo off their ships and because we’re efficient, we managed without overwhelming our roads,” he said.

Miller also explained several key infrastructure projects in the Lynchburg area including the Candlers Mountain Interchange which is a $64 million project to convert the existing cloverleaf interchange into a partial cloverleaf and replace the existing bridge over the Expressway, improving safety and efficiency. Construction is set to start in 2026.

He also spoke about a $22 million initiative to add turn lanes and roundabouts between Russell Woods Drive and Calohan Road which he said will enhance traffic flow and safety.

“While they may seem small, they make driving around Lynchburg easier, safer and more efficient, attracting new residents and businesses,” he said.

Statewide, Miller talked about Interstate 81, a major freight corridor, and said there is an ongoing $3.4 billion improvement program aimed at enhancing traffic flow and safety along the corridor, which will support a substantial portion of the state’s freight movement.

“Every year, I-81 accommodates 12 million commercial trucks carrying over $300 billion worth of goods,” Miller said.

Miller also celebrated Lynchburg’s success with passenger rail service, which began in 2009 and has seen significant ridership growth.

“In April 2024, ridership increased to 28,000,” he said.

He also spoke highly of the Lynchburg Regional Airport and its role in supporting business and industry, as well as Liberty University’s aviation program, which is helping to address the pilot shortage.

“Lynchburg has a valuable asset in its airport, and we are committed to supporting its growth,” Miller said.

He also updated attendees on the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) saying it was one of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s first priorities to fix.

“Because everyone hated the DMV,” he said.

At the start, the average wait time across the state was 34 minutes and Miller said wait time now is 26 minutes.

“We didn’t spend any money doing it,” he said. “We just encouraged staff to smile, say hello. Just really simple stuff.”