Commonwealth receives federal funding to improve local rural railroad crossings

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has announced that the Commonwealth has received $3.2 million in federal funding to improve four railroad crossings in rural Virginia. The rail crossing upgrades in Hanover, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties will enhance safety and rail service as well as support higher volume and higher speed rail between Richmond and Washington, D.C.

The Commonwealth received the funding through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s

Federal Railroad Administration. The program focuses on areas in the rail network where improvements to crossings could save lives, reduce commuting delays, and improve commerce. The four Virginia projects are among 63 projects in 32 states that received federal funding.

The four crossings are on local, two-lane roadways in rural areas. Funding will support the installation of four gates at each of the crossings, which will prevent drivers from going around the barriers and trying to cross ahead of trains. The crossings currently have two gates and warning flashers.

The four crossings are at the following locations:

“This project follows through on the bipartisan infrastructure law’s promises of stronger physical infrastructure, improved safety, and responsible investments in our local communities."

„ Brent Point Road near Arkendale Road and just outside of Widewater State Park in Sta ord County

„ Summit Crossing Road in Spotsylvania County

„ Doswell Road near Doswell Park Road in Hanover County

„ Elmont Road between Elmont Crossing Lane and

Tyson Trail in Hanover County

“These safety projects are important improvements to the best-in-class road and rail networks that make Virginia the best place to live, work, and do business,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary W. Sheppard Miller III. “Rail crossing enhancements are just some of the many transportation investments we are making across the entire Commonwealth — totaling nearly $26 billion over the next six years — ranging from rural safety upgrades to game-changing mega projects that will speed commutes and fuel the engine of our economy.”

“This project follows through on the bipartisan infrastructure law’s promises of stronger physical infrastructure, improved safety, and responsible investments in our local communities,” said U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, whose congressional district contains crossings that will be improved. “By making our communities safer, we are ensuring that Virginia remains the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the need for these investments in our Commonwealth

— and I want to congratulate DRPT on this award.”

“The rural rail crossings are located along an important rail corridor and essential economic driver for Virginia,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “Making these investments today will allow Virginia to advance its ambitious rail goals while at the same time meeting community expectations for safety and reduced community impacts with the expansion of rail service.”

The crossings are located along the 123-mile Washington, D.C., to Richmond (DC2RVA) corridor that creates a vital connection between Virginia and the country’s national rail network, which will see passenger rail service double over the next decade with improvements along the CSX and Virginia Passenger Rail Authorityowned track. The DC2RVA improvements are part of the Commonwealth’s Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative to increase rail capacity and service.

Tra c and train volumes are expected to increase over the next two decades at the four crossings, making crossing improvements critical to enhancing safety of drivers and pedestrians at the crossings and improving reliability and travel times for freight and passenger rail service.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included the creation of this new dedicated grant program aimed at addressing points where railroad tracks inter- sect with roads, which have led to blocked vehicle and pedestrian tra c and safety issues. This is the first round of grants under the five-year, $3 billion Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. In preparation of the opening for grant applications for the new program, DRPT conducted a statewide evaluation of existing rail crossings to prioritize potential projects.

DRPT will provide a $650,000 state match to the federal funds, and the localities where the railroad crossings are located will provide a total of $150,000 in additional matching funds. Construction is expected to take place in 2024.

Virginia spends approximately $4.7 million per year on highway-rail crossing improvements to enhance safety, transportation, and rail network fluidity. According to FRA’s inventory of at-grade crossings, there are approximately 3,200 railroad crossings in Virginia.

DRPT’s mission is to connect and improve the quality of life for all Virginians with innovative transportation solutions. The agency works with rail and public transportation stakeholders to provide service to people throughout Virginia and promotes transportation options to the general public, businesses, and community decision makers. DRPT’s vision is a connected Commonwealth with an integrated multimodal network that serves every person, every business, and every need. For more information, please visit www.drpt.virginia.gov.

MILLS, Karen Robertson

MILLS, Karen Robertson, 69, of Hanover, went to be with her Lord on Friday, June 2, 2023. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Bob Mills; her mother, Betty Robertson; her children, Ginny Ellis, Kara Greenwood, Bert Mills and Kristen (John) Coletti; her grandsons, Reed and Smith Greenwood; her brother, Harold Robertson (Tonya); her sister, Katherine Seay; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Karen grew up in Richmond, Va., and graduated from Thomas Je erson High School in 1972. After receiving a degree from Madison College (JMU) in 1976, Karen was lifelong educator teaching the youth of Hanover County for 36 years where she retired from Chickahominy Middle School in 2017. She was an active member of Northside Baptist Church for more than 66 years, and she served as a member of the church sta after retiring from education. The family received friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7 at Bennett Funeral Home in Mechanicsville. A service was held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 at Northside Baptist Church in Mechanicsville. Interment followed at Signal Hill Memorial Park. Online condolences may be registered at www.Bennettfuneralhomes.com.

MOON, Sadie Lou

MOON, Sadie Lou, 87, of Glen Allen, Va., went to be with the Lord on June 5, 2023 at home, surrounded by the loving company of her daughter, Pamela and grandson, Nathan. During her life, Sadie focused on the important things in life: friends, family, food and flowers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy O. Moon; her parents, W.E. Duke Sr. and Viola Eddleton Duke; and her brothers, W.E. Duke Jr. and David Thomas Duke Sr. Sadie is survived by her daughters, Pamela Moon and Wanda Witte; her grandson, Nathan Moon; granddaughters, Laura, Sarah and Emma; five great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Martha Ingersoll and Jean Riddle. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Goodbye, Sadie — you will be missed. bennettfuneralhomes.com Please see MORE OBITUARIES, Page 10

STEVENS, Murrie Epps Lampkin “Bootsie”

STEVENS, Murrie Epps Lampkin “Bootsie”, 88, of Mechanicsville, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 3, 2023, after a life of faith in God and love for her family and friends. She will be missed by all. Bootsie was born on June 15, 1934, in Richmond, was raised in Sandston by her loving mother and father, and graduated from Highland Springs High School in 1952 where she met the love of her life, Tommy Stevens. They were joyfully married on September 8, 1956 at Fairfield Presbyterian Church and were loving and devoted parents to their daughter, Donna. Their love, faith, and commitment to each other and their family were wonderful. Bootsie was a member of Fairfield for over 65 years. For many years, she enjoyed singing soprano in the church choir. Her favorite hymns were “Amazing Grace,” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” She also enjoyed being the Fairfield Presbyterian Women’s Treasurer for a number of years as well as an active member of the Union Sunday School Class and the Joy Circle. Through the years, she worked as a secretary, a pediatric receptionist, and a bank teller, but she said her most important roles were as wife to Tommy and mother to their daughter, Donna. Life was full of love, laughter, camping trips, cookouts, and parties with extended family. Tommy and his two brothers all lived on the same block in Mechanicsville with their families, making it wonderful for all of the children to grow up with such close family ties. Bootsie treasured all of her family and also her many friendships, especially those in the “gang” of lifelong friends she, Tommy, and Donna joined at “the river” in their younger days with all the families piled into one little river house where they would all relax, swim, ski, and just enjoy each other’s company. Many of her family and friends have now passed on, so they are surely greeting her with big hugs and having a wonderful reunion in Heaven — led, of course, by the love of her life, Tommy. Bootsie is survived by her loving daughter, Donna Rhea Stevens Pritchett of Mechanicsville; her brothers-in-law, Robert Lewis Stevens Jr. and Ray Alonza Stevens, both of Mechanicsville; her nieces and nephews, Myra Moore, Tammy and Jamie Loving, Lori and David Jessey, Tracey and Dennis Sulser, Julie Sutton, Amy and Rusty Hale, Robby and Kim Stevens, Scott and Megan Stevens; her great-nieces and great-nephews, Rob, Ben, and Caroline Loving, Cole and Alex Jessey, Brandon, Connor, and Grant Sulser, Caleb, Emily, and Nicole Sutton, Zach and Taylor Hale, Tyler and Madison Stevens, and Neal Stevens; her aunt, Elizabeth Haddleton Lightfoot; and her cousins, Barbara, Mary Kathryn, Leighton, Allyn, Leslie, Philip, Louann, and Herbert Jr. She was preceded in death way too soon by her loving husband of 27 years, Thomas Hall Stevens; her parents, Anne Claiborne “Peggy” Lightfoot Lampkin and William Elliott Lampkin; her sisters-in-law, Genevieve Myra Johnson Stevens and Donna Lee Houchins Stevens; her doting great-grandmother who she called “Nana,” Anne Augusta “Nannie” Claiborne Lightfoot-English; her grandparents, Philip Howell Lightfoot and Bertha Helen Quilliam Lightfoot, and Walter Edward Lampkin and Murrie Epps Duncanson Lampkin; her aunts and uncles, Philip Howell Lightfoot and Ruth Ashley Lightfoot, Helen Bernard Lightfoot Owens and Harry Clinton Owens, Herbert Claiborne Lightfoot, Thelma Lampkin, and Clyde Edward Lampkin and Dorothy Lucile Johnson Lampkin. The family wishes to thank her caregivers at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center and Bon Secours Hospice. A private interment was held in Washington Memorial Park, Sandston. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Fairfield Presbyterian Church, 6930 Cold Harbor Road, Mechanicsville, Va. 23111. bennettfunearlhomes.com.

McGHEE, Fredric I. “Ric” III

McGHEE, Fredric I. “Ric” III, 22, of Mechanicsville, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Jackie McGhee; and grandfather, Gordon Johnson. Ric is survived by his parents, Virginia and Fred McGhee Jr.; sister, Callie McGhee; grandfather, Freddie McGhee (Gail); grandmother, Charlotte Johnson; aunts, Charlene Creps (Jim), Susan McGhee (Danny Minton), and Connie Cost; uncle, Shawn McGhee; as well as extended family and friends. He was a 2019 graduate of Lee-Davis High School, while receiving an A ssociates of Social Science through the ACA program. He was currently attending VCU, seeking a major in Psychology. It was in middle school that Ric developed the love of playing guitar. He quickly became a talented musician and enjoyed playing in several bands over the years, most recently with Silico. The family received family and friends from 1 to 2 p.m., with a Celebration of Life beginning at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Fairmount Christian Church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to College Ministries of Virginia, P.O. Box 3280, Richmond, Va. 23228 or the McShin Foundation, 2300 Dumbarton Rd., Richmond, Va. 23228. bennettfuneralhomes. com.