HB 1581 Freight Rail Study
Multi-State Rail Feasibility Bills
Approved by both Houses of the Virginia General Assembly - Unanimously!
In 2006, legislators passed our bill to conduct a Multi-state Rail Feasibility Plan to divert over half of all long-haul through trucks onto intermodal trains in the I-81 corridor. Delegates Ben Cline and James Schulerwere chief patrons of the bill. (See details below: House Bill 1581)
Last year, the Virginia General Assembly passed RAIL Solution’s bills to establish the I-81 Corridor Multi-state Transportation Planning Initiative. (See details below: HJ 709 & SB 778)
Thank You! chief patrons: Delegates Ben Cline, Jim Shuler and Senator Russell Potts!
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|  Sen. Russell Potts (R) 27th District |
 Del. Todd Gilbert (R) 15th District | Special Thanks to: Freshman Delegate Todd Gilbert, who drew together a broad contingent of I-81 corridor legislators to support a resolution to freeze negotiations with STAR Solutions during the 2006 session. Though the resolution ultimately did not pass, Delegate Gilbert was instrumental in drawing widespread attention to the grassroots opposition to the mega-highway proposal. (See details below: HJ 143) |
2006
VICTORY! HB 1581 Interstate Route 81 Corridor; diversion of truck traffic. Benjamin L. Cline, Chief Patron. A very similar bill, HB 446 (Chief Patron James Schuler) was rolled into HB 1581.
Summary as passed:
Interstate Route 81 Corridor; diversion of truck traffic. Requires the Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Secretary of Transportation and the Rail Advisory Board, to complete a comprehensive feasibility plan to define the conditions that would be necessary to divert the maximum amount feasible of the long-haul, through-truck freight traffic to intermodal rail in the Interstate Route 81 Corridor. This bill incorporates HB 446 (Shuler).
To see the bill on the General Assembly website go to:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0934
SJ 165 and HJ 143 Resolutions to Suspend VDOT Contract Negotiations with Star (Patrons Hanger and Gilbert, respectively)
Summary:
These resolutions started out with identical wording and would have asked VDOT to halt negotiations with STAR Solutions and make specific, immediate improvements for safety and congestion relief. When VDOT told Senator Hanger that they would oppose his bill, he offered to amend it to their satisfaction. The resulting legislation was very open ended and unsatisfactory to grassroots rail advocates. SJ 165 passed the Senate but was tabled in the House Rules Committee. Delegate Todd Gilbert withstood a lobbying effort by VDOT and the Virginia Manufacturers Association to insert their language into his bill. Instead, Gilbert made amendments that were more acceptable to the Shenendoah Valley Network (SVN), calling for: no tolls; limited widening within the existing right-of-way and mainly for truck climbing lanes; greater enforcement; and rail development to divert trucks. Delegates Gilbert and Cline held a press conference, along with many of the I-81 Corridor legislators, to promote HJ 143. By an 8-7 vote, the House Rules Committee tabled (killed) the resolution.
View SB 165 (search on "sb165") or View HJ 143 (search on "hj143") Here's the substitute language for HJ 143 that Gilbert submitted on behalf of the Shenandoah Valley Network.
2005
VICTORY! HJ 709 Interstate Route 81; urging Congress to encourage muli-state transportation planning initiative. Benjamin L. Cline, Chief Patron
Summary as introduced:
I-81 corridor multi-state transportation planning initiative. Urges Congress to encourage the primary states served by the Interstate Route I-81 corridor to adopt a multi-state transportation planning initiative to (i) study, develop, and promote a plan for the design, construction, financing, and operation of optimal freight and passenger transportation facilities in the I-81 corridor; (ii) coordinate efforts to establish the least costly and most efficient combination of transportation infrastructure development; (iii) coordinate and require joint planning between the Virginia Department of Transportation and the departments of transportation of the other states; and (iv) seek and provide funding and resources for innovative and appropriate passenger and freight transportation improvement concepts. This resolution is identical to SB 778.
To see the bill on the General Assembly website go to:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=051&typ=bil&val=hj709
VICTORY! SB 778 Interstate Route 81 Corridor Multistate Transportation Planning Initiative; created. H. Russell Potts, Jr., Chief Patron
Summary as passed:
Interstate Route 81 Corridor Multistate Transportation Planning Initiative. Provides for the establishment of the Interstate Route 81 Corridor Multistate Transportation Planning Initiative. This bill is identical to HJR 709.
To see the bill on the General Assembly website go to:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=051&typ=bil&val=sb778