The Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety was directed by House Joint Resolution No. 54 to study the feasibility of using existing railroad lines for commuters in metropolitan areas of Virginia and to report the findings to the General Assembly not later than December 1, 1974.

It is concluded that commuter rail passenger service is feasible in Northern Virginia but there are critical issues to be resolved before implementation is possible. In the Peninsula, Richmond, and Tidewater areas, it is concluded that there is a possibility of commuter rail service becoming feasible but it is likely that new express bus services will be more effective and readily implemented. A demonstration project could be developed if there is sufficient interest for statewide policymaking in getting firsthand information on costs and benefits of a small-scale service. In Lynchburg, Petersburg, and Roanoke it is concluded that the potential patronage is too limited to warrant further consideration of what would be a relatively costly public service.

Railroad companies have little enthusiasm for instituting commuter service, for good reasons. It could not be profitable for them and might harm current or future freight operations. Government would need to provide financial assistance for train equipment and facilities, and provide operating subsidies under most conditions as well, and in the majority of cases, it would be far better to accelerate bus transit and park-ride programs than begin commuter rail projects. Both capital costs and operating costs will usually be found to be much higher than with bus and operating costs would be much higher than with rapid rail transit under most assumptions and public policies in effect today.