The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation was looking for input on a proposed statewide rail plan Wednesday night.

The plan provides potential strategies to address current rail needs and challenges across the Commonwealth, which include both freight and passenger rail.

The proposed projects within the plan will benefit the public by helping remove about 7.3 million vehicles from Virginia highways and get rid of more than 1.2 million tons of carbon emissions per year.

There are also quite a few benefits for right here in the Valley according to Virginia DRPT Chief of Staff, Jennifer Pickett.

She says, "Some of the projects that may be of interest to this community include the TransDominion Express which will expand passenger service between Washington D.C., Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Bristol, and eventually between Lynchburg and Richmond. Wee also have a series of improvements for the I-81 corridor that will help to take more trucks off highways."

Public meetings conclude this month. The rail action plan will be coming out in September and finalized in November.