(The Winchester Star published the following story by Tim Allen on its website on September 5.)
WINCHESTER, Va. — A group of local activists hopes the Virginia Department of Transportation sticks to its word when it says that a rail component will be a significant aspect of any Interstate 81 expansion.
A statewide group called Rail Solution, represented locally by meteorologist Jim Giraytys, held a press conference Thursday at the Timbrook Public Safety Center in Winchester.
Groups included in the conference were the Virginia Initiative to Save and Improve Our Neighborhoods, Voters to Stop Sprawl, the Frederick County Voters Association, Residents Against Indiscriminate Development, the Scenic 340 Project, and Friends of Page Valley.
The Rail Solution group is pushing for more than just a token rail component included in the plans to expand I-81 put forward by two groups of private companies ? STAR Solutions and Fluor Virginia Inc.
Giraytys said the public’s and local governments’ desire is for a massive railroad initiative that could serve as an alternative to an I-81 expansion.
He mentioned innovative concepts used in Europe where commercial trucks ship their freight over long hauls on a truck ferry, which is a train that allows truck drivers to drive on and drive off.
Giraytys said the cost for a rail alternative may not provide much of a monetary savings to I-81 widening, but that it will make up the difference with improvements in air quality and safety, and less intrusion than a superhighway running through the Shenandoah Valley.
Norfolk-Southern estimates about $2.4 billion would be necessary for a massive rail upgrade. Fluor?s I-81 plan would cost about $1.8 billion, and STAR Solutions’ about $7.8 billion.
One of the issues that Rail Solution must tackle is changing the culture of VDOT, Giraytys said.
“Of course, they are in the business of building roads,” he said, but acknowledged the agency is also tasked with overseeing rail and public transportation funding as well.
Giraytys highlighted the 22 counties, cities, and towns ? including Frederick and Clarke counties and Stephens City ? that have approved some form of resolution supporting a rail option to I-81 widening.
“We were somewhat surprised by the amount of participation, but very pleased,” he said. “It indicates that people are taking this stuff seriously and are concerned about the impacts of a massive interstate expansion.”
According to a press release, Rail Solution proposes upgrading the Norfolk Southern railroad line that parallels I-81 to a modern, straightened double track. The group advocates removing grade crossings to allow high-speed rail traffic.