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Improvements to Virginia's transportation system will speed up economic development. That is the finding of a transportation research organization called TRIP. Tuesday, the company laid out 50 projects that it says are key.
Researchers presented their information and proposals to the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon. They said Virginia can capitalize on its central, East-coast location by improving roads, rails and ports. It can't be done without money, however. "At this point the funding needs of the state's transportation system far outpace the funding that's available" Carolyn Bonifas, TRIP Associate Research Director, told News-7. "So it will be critical that the state and the local and federal agencies can find a way to fund transportation because it is so critical to the state's economy."
Of the top 10 projects identified by TRIP, only one is in the News-7 viewing area-- widening sections of Interstate 81 near Roanoke, Harrisonburg and Winchester. The other nine are in Northern Virginia and Tidewater. Projects farther down the list include improving Route 58 from Hillsville to Stuart, building Interstate 73 from Roanoke south through Henry County, improving Route 29 around Lynchburg and adding truck climbing lanes on Interstate-77.
Click Here to read the complete report from TRIP
Click Here to read the list of top 50 projects
According to its website, TRIP "researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues." It lists insurance companies, labor unions and "businesses involved in highway and transit engineering and construction" as its financial supporters.