The Commonwealth Transportation Board today passed it latest Six-Year Improvement Plan, one that includes $3 million to help build an Amtrak passenger platform in Roanoke. The statewide plan provides $17 billion worth of transportation improvements statewide, including $3 million for plans to add a new downtown track and passenger platform to handle Roanoke Amtrak service. That first requires construction of a $6 million culvert to support the track. It looked at first like the city might have to pay it all, but the plan approved today reduces Roanoke’s direct cost in half. Amtrak service remains scheduled to return to Roanoke in 2016 or 2017.
