McAuliffe touted an estimated $500 million in planned rail improvements — from CSX and the state six-year plan — as “the largest rail investment in the history of the commonwealth,” with benefits in all modes of transportation.

“Transportation leaders came to the table with one clear goal: improve travel in the most heavily traveled corridor in the Southeast by investing in road and rail improvements to move people and commerce efficiently, not only through Virginia, but also from Florida to New York,” the governor said in a statement announcing the grant under the federal FAST Act signed in December.

Separately, the government awarded a $90 million FASTLANE grant for a $250 million project to rebuild the approaches to Arlington Memorial Bridge, a critical commuter artery built 84 years ago between Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“This significant federal investment will go a long way toward ensuring that Memorial Bridge remains open, which is welcome news for the region’s commuters,” said a joint statement by Virginia Sens. Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine, members of the state’s congressional delegation from Northern Virginia, and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.