NS Intermodal Facility at Elliston

[NW Mailing List]

So government is finally starting to do for rail what it has done for 
the truck and air
industries! Help build infrastructure for the public (and corporate) 
benefit.
Tom Cosgrove


NW Mailing List wrote:

> *Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility Project Advances

>

> /Norfolk Southern will construct on Elliston Site

>

> /*

> *RICHMOND, Va., August 19, 2008- *The Virginia Department of Rail and 

> Public Transportation (DRPT) today issued a Notice to Proceed to 

> Norfolk Southern Railway, authorizing the railroad to initiate 

> construction of the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility at the Elliston 

> site in Montgomery County, Va. The facility will provide significant 

> economic benefits for the region, with up to 2,900 jobs and $71 

> million in tax revenue annually.

>

> Since 2006, DRPT has worked with localities in the Roanoke region to 

> consider potential sites for the facility, which is part of the 

> Heartland Corridor project.  The Heartland Corridor project is a 

> multi-state freight rail initiative with significant Virginia 

> benefits. The project will save 1.5 days of shipping time between the 

> Port of Virginia and markets in the Midwest, remove 1.9 million trucks 

> from Virginia's highways, save 189 million gallons of fuel and reduce 

> carbon emissions by 700,000 tons in the first 15 years of operation.

>

> The decision to construct the intermodal facility at the Elliston site 

> was based on two years of review and analysis. In March 2008, DRPT 

> released the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility Summary Report which 

> concludes that the Elliston site is the only feasible site for the 

> intermodal facility.  

>

> On April 4, 2008, Governor Kaine requested that, based on the complete 

> set of reports and information available, the localities provide their 

> recommendation on the project within thirty days. To facilitate 

> discussion, the Roanoke Alleghany Regional Commission hosted a 

> regional meeting of elected officials on April 25, 2008, where 

> Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer and DRPT Agency Director 

> Matthew Tucker provided additional information and answered questions 

> during the meeting to help reach a consensus on next steps.  

> Subsequently, the region affirmed its commitment to the Heartland 

> Corridor project, including the intermodal facility.

>

> DRPT has authorized Norfolk Southern to commence facility construction 

> activities by winter 2008, with the goal of project completion by 

> 2010. Throughout the construction process, Norfolk Southern will 

> coordinate with Montgomery County, the Virginia Department of 

> Transportation, DRPT and other organizations to minimize the local 

> impact of site construction.

>

> *About the Heartland Corridor and the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility

>

> *The Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility is part of the multi-state 

> Heartland Corridor freight rail project, which will increase capacity 

> and reduce freight shipping time between Hampton Roads, Va. and 

> Chicago by up to 1.5 days.

>

> Intermodal facilities serve as a transfer point for freight shipping 

> between trucks and rail. Just one intermodal train has the equivalent 

> carrying capacity of 200 long haul trucks, providing a competitive 

> shipping option and reducing the number of trucks on highways.

>

> Additional information is available online at 

> http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/special/roanoke.aspx.

>

> *About DRPT

>

> *The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is 

> the state agency for rail, transit, and congestion management. The 

> agency's mission is to improve mobility and expand transportation 

> choices in Virginia. Visit us at www.drpt.virginia.gov 

> <http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/>.

>

> # # #

>

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-- 
Tom Cosgrove
N2VFK
NREMT-B
SKYWARN Spotter LME002

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