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

Governor Tim Kaine
can make rail a reality along I-81

We in the Shenandoah Valley, Western and Southwest Virginia face a choice: A costly, overbuilt, dangerous, and destructive I-81 tollway or a cheaper, cleaner, safer rail-based, long-term solution to I-81 congestion that will help, not hurt our economy and public health.

To be effective intermodal rail needs to cover a 500-mile distance (from Knoxville, TN, to Harrisburg, PA, for instance). Gov. Kaine should require that VDOT implement the I-81 Corridor Multi-state Transportation Planning Initiative (signed into law in May) to devise a holistic plan best for all 13 states in this national corridor. VDOT did not investigate improved intermodal rail service from Knoxville, TN, to Harrisburg, PA, as we requested. Instead, they only considered rail improvements within Virginia and found, predictably, insufficient truck diversion to rail from Winchester to Bristol.

Email Governor Kaine now.

Or send a letter to:
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Call: (804) 786-2211

Fax: (804) 371-6351

A few lines is all you need. You don't need to be an expert. Not sure what to say? See the important points below. You are also welcome to use our sample letter.


Important Points

Urge Gov. Kaine to order highway improvements only in documented dangerous sections of I-81. A third of all fatal accidents occur in only 8% of I-81 lane miles. For quick safety improvements, prioritize those unsafe sections and bid them out as small jobs COMPETITIVELY to small local and state contractors.

Ask him to reject Halliburton-STAR Solutions' (and now VDOT's) proposal for a massive, no-bid contract plan to turn I-81 into an 6-12 lane East Coast Truck Bypass. Such a scheme would allow millions more through-state trucks to pollute the Shenandoah and Southwest VA air and water, degrading our rural landscape.


Tim Kaine could be the one to decide this issue...

Don't delay. Take a stand in support of Rail, the best option for the fiscal and economic health of Virginia. Imagine - 2000 emails - would give the new Governor the inspiration to think creatively, build for an appropriate and prosperous future economy, and command VDOT to do the people's bidding, not Halliburton's.

And forward this web address to others who are concerned about the future of our communities in Western, Valley and Southwest Virginia.

Gov. Kaine's email

Sample letter

You can easily copy and paste the letter above.
(Select the text, copy it, open Kaine's email form and paste the text into the message box at the bottom of the form. You will then be able to make changes to the text.)

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