Posted on 08/19/2008 10:57:54 AM PDT by TaxRelief
Elliston Site Confirmed as the Only Feasible Location
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) released its final report on the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility [April 7, 2008].
In January 2008, the DRPT Economic Assessment Report confirmed that the intermodal facility, as part of the Heartland Corridor initiative, could achieve significant economic benefits for the Roanoke region, including an increase in annual employment of up to 2,900 jobs and tax revenues of up to $71 million annually. The Heartland Corridor multi-state freight rail initiative will save more than 30 hours over the current freight rail shipping time between the ports of Virginia and the Midwest, provide new access to the global marketplace and remove 150,000 trucks from Virginia’s highways each year. The strategic location of an intermodal facility in the Roanoke region will help manage truck traffic and improve freight shipments along both the I-81 and Route 460 corridors.
(Excerpt) Read more at drpt.virginia.gov ...
Image added by me from public comments report (pdf) on DRPT documents page.
This was pretty much expected and has been in the works since 2000. It’s all part of the Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor project, which is the biggest thing in railroading since the Pennsylvania Railroad electrified the Northeast Corridor back in the Thirties.
Let’s hope it really reduces traffic on I-81.
I don't think it will be noticeable due to normal traffic increases. Most of the truck freight traffic on I-81 is for “next day” delivery, something the railroad is not equipped to handle.
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