A Regional Vision for Virginia, Maryland, D.C. Rail Expanding rail service to more communities in Maryland and D.C. could enhance the benefits of Virginia's recent investments in intercity rail. February 9, 2021, 6am PST | Diana Ionescu | On the heels of Virginia's significant investments in intercity rail, a business community think tank calls for a "regional rail vision" that includes Maryland and the District of Columbia that would connect the entire region and maximize the benefits of Virginia's work on rail connectivity, writes Wyatt Gordon in the Virginia Mercury. The goal is a regional rail service that lets commuters travel directly to D.C. and Baltimore from as far south as Richmond without changing trains, which Representative Don Beyer of Alexandria hopes will translate into a "big increase in ridership." Expanded rail service could "translate into big bucks for households and government coffers across the region." Increased connectivity could yield significant economic benefits for the region and boost access to affordable housing, evening out the pressure of the region's high cost of living. "If convenient commutes become a truly regional commodity, home prices closer to the Capitol may also slow their rapid staggering ascent."