Marty Gordon
Good news about the returning passenger train service to the New River Valley has been announced.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger recommended funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission in the amount of a $1 million grant, which will help renovate the former station in Christiansburg. Local officials say the grant will help offset the $3.7 million needed to fully renovate the building in the Cambria section of the town.
A total of $8.4 million is coming to projects throughout southwest Virginia thanks to the ARC.
In addition to the new monies, the Federal Railroad Administration has released a $2 million grant for the Christiansburg project.
The building was the original passenger rail station and was initially constructed in 1906.
The extension of passenger rail to Virginia’s Blue Ridge began in 2009 with service to Lynchburg, which saw ridership triple what had been predicted in just its first year.
In 2017, the service was extended to Roanoke and ridership continued to grow with more than 220,000 passengers traveling in FFY2019 (pre-pandemic).
Spanberger announced the recommendation of 19 projects and letters of intent for three more projects totaling $8,397,277 through the 2026 Virginia Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) program, supporting infrastructure improvements, job creation, small-business support, downtown revitalization, and workforce development across Southwest Virginia.
These recommended projects will collectively serve 1,240 businesses, provide 11,500 households with new or improved infrastructure, and create 58 jobs across the region.
These projects reflect immediate community priorities and long-term regional goals, positioning Southwest Virginia for sustained economic resilience, increased private-sector opportunity, and continued quality-of-life improvements.
“With these new investments, we are strengthening the foundations of local economies, expanding workforce opportunities and good-paying jobs, and improving the quality of life for families across Southwest Virginia,” said Spanberger. “I am proud to support these efforts and am grateful for the regional leaders, organizations, and residents who continue to build a stronger future for Appalachia.”
Established in 1965, the goal of the ARC program is to assist the region in achieving economic parity reflective of the nation’s overall economic growth. The Virginia ARC region encompasses 25 counties and eight independent cities in Southwest Virginia. ARC grants are aimed at supporting the goal of building a strong and sustainable asset-based economy by funding projects that serve as catalysts for bringing jobs and prosperity to Appalachian communities, all while preserving their character.
