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Transportation

Richmond-Petersburg is a mid-sized metropolitan area of 1.3 million people, free of the traffic congestion of larger cities like Washington, D.C., New York and Austin, without sacrificing on multi-modal options and workforce access.

Highways

The region is part of a large metropolitan area with direct Interstate highway access for high-speed travel in every direction, putting 41 percent of the U.S. population and some of the most populated domestic markets within reach in a one-day drive, including New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and more. Traffic flow is relatively smoother and faster than national averages given the mid-size metro population, making transporting family and friends as easy as transporting freight.

  • Interstate 95: The East Coast’s primary corridor runs through the region, parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Miami
  • Interstate 85: Connects with major cities to the southwest including Charlotte, Atlanta, and ultimately the Gulf Coast
  • Interstate 64: A major East-West corridor extends relatively through the region, linking the region to Coastal Virginia ports and to the Midwest via Louisville and St. Louis
  • S. Route 460: the region’s primary straight-line access to Coastal Virginia’s ports and beaches
  • Additional connecting “beltway-style” routes available to facilitate traffic flow both inside and through the region

Rail

The region is historically a rail transport crossroads, and remains so to this day, with unparalleled access to key markets and destinations in every direction, rail-served greenfield sites, passenger rail stations and a half-dozen intermodal facilities.

  • Access the Midwest via the Heartland Corridor: Double stack infrastructure to the U.S. inland allows cargo originating from the Port of Virginia and Gateway Region to arrive in Chicago and other Midwestern locations in just two days
  • Norfolk Southern runs east and west through the region
  • CSX runs north and south through the region
  • Transload facilities: At least six in the region (half of all facilities in the entire state are clustered locally)
  • Passenger Rail: Petersburg (PTB) Amtrak station and a future high-speed rail corridor stop, connecting the southeastern (Raleigh to Jacksonville) and northeastern (Washington, D.C. to Boston) regions of U.S.; 98,000 annual passengers expected to pass through the Gateway Region

Ports

The region benefits from the many advantages of access to the international shipping terminals of the Port of Virginia, including exclusive incentives for port trade without the hassle of truck congestion immediately surrounding the port. Multi-modal freight access to the port includes direct double-stacked rail, truck access within 1.5 hours, and barge.


Port of Virginia Trade Overview

Located on the region’s boundary, with direct access to Interstate 95, the Port of Richmond functions as an extended terminal for the Port of Virginia, with barge service to the coast three times a week through the 22-foot channel, serving both bulk and container shipments with on-site rail and storage.

Airports

The region is well-served with air service, with a local freight and passenger hub airport and access to major national and international hubs at Washington, D.C. There are over 120 nonstop domestic destinations available among nearly 27,000 monthly flights accessible within a 2.5-hour driving radius.

Richmond International Airport (RIC): American/U.S. Airways, Delta, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Allegiant and Interjet currently serve RIC, offering nonstop flights to major domestic destinations and easy access to global destinations. More than 3.3 million passengers annually and growing.

National/International airports within 2-hour drive: Dulles International (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), Newport News (PHF), Norfolk (ORF), Raleigh (RDU)

Local general aviation airports

  • Dinwiddie County Airport: Transport facility, fully equipped and staffed maintenance hangar, two runways (5,001 and 3,060 feet), charter flights, air taxi
  • Wakefield Municipal Airport: Located in Sussex County along Rt 460 with a transport facility and 4,350-foot lighted runway

Download Air Travel Map | RIC Nonstop Destinations | Nearby Airports Nonstop Flights