STAR Solutions Officially Ends Participation in All Future Work in the I-81 Corridor!

Our Vision: the future for freight in Virginia

RAIL Solution is a grassroots coalition of over 350 individuals and 10 citizens’ groups promoting railroads as a safe, clean, efficient carrier of freight and people. We propose this long-term vision — employ faster, upgraded rail service in concert with targeted highway improvements.  This combination ensures the well-being of the citizens and businesses of Valley of Virginia and Southwest Virginia.  Our transportation plan promotes public health and safety while preserving the financial, environmental, and cultural integrity of our homes, farms, businesses, and communities.
 
RAIL Solution At a Glance:

The Plan
Railways would be upgraded to accommodate growing freight traffic, primarily by building dual tracks and eliminating all road crossings and other bottlenecks. Higher speed rail lines would move freight containers, trailers, or whole tractor-trailer rigs, and potentially passenger trains, quickly through the I-81 corridor.

The RAIL Solution plan also calls for targeted improvements to the dozen or so places on I-81 where accident rates are high. This would significantly improve the highway’s safety record. “Climbing lanes” on steep hills and extra passing lanes would be added in chronically congested areas. Selected dangerous interchanges would be redesigned and more funds and attention would be directed to traffic management and enforcement.

The improved railway could easily exceed the carrying capacity of the proposed truck tollway and truly separate freight traffic from cars, with much room for growth at less than half the estimated highway expansion cost, while avoiding most of the 15 years of construction danger and disruption required under the STAR plan.


Tracks placed alongside the highway

NEXT MEETING:
June 7th at 10am
Salem, VA