Eastern Railroad Discussion > Final Roanoke [VA] Regional Intermodal Facility Report

DRPT Issues Final Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility Report
Elliston Site Confirmed as the Only Feasible Location

RICHMOND, Va., April 7, 2008- The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) today released its final report on the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility.

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.

DRPT, in coordination with industry experts and resources provided through a variety of relevant state agencies, project partners and engineering firms, conducted a comprehensive 16-month review of the ten proposed site locations. Through this analysis, DRPT has concluded that the Elliston site is the only feasible site for the location of the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility.

The site evaluation process included DRPT’s analysis of economic, public benefit, contractual and environmental factors for each site in addition to an independent analysis of Norfolk Southern’s review of each site for rail operations feasibility. The process culminated in a detailed review of three sites: the Colorado St. site submitted by the City of Salem , the Garman Virginian site in Roanoke County and the Elliston site in Montgomery County .

In particular, DRPT appreciated the City of Salem ’s cooperation on this initiative and their proposal for the Colorado St. site. The majority of the site evaluation process was focused on evaluating this site to determine if it could serve as a feasible location for the intermodal facility. Unfortunately, the Colorado St. site is not located on the Heartland Corridor rail line, and serving the facility would create rail operating conflicts that cannot be resolved without extensive land acquisition. Rail operations would also result in the blockage of Union Street for a minimum of four hours per day without the construction of a new bridge. This grade separation would require the taking of multiple homes on both sides of the Roanoke River . The total site construction cost is estimated at $71.6 million.

The Garman Virginian site is not located on the Heartland Corridor rail line, lies in a floodplain and would have the same rail operating challenges as the Colorado St. site at a total site cost of $52.85 million.

The Elliston site is located on the Heartland Corridor rail line, provides unimpeded access for both highway and rail traffic, and supports efficient intermodal operations at a total site cost of $35.5 million.

“While DRPT and Norfolk Southern have independently reached the same conclusion regarding a feasible site location, we recognize that it will take close cooperation with the community to make this facility a success,” said DRPT Director Matthew Tucker.

In a letter dated April 4, 2008, Governor Kaine requested that the regional localities provide their collective recommendation on this initiative within 30 days. The next steps regarding construction of the intermodal facility will be determined based on the regional recommendation.

The final Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility report and supporting documents are available on DRPT’s website at http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/special/roanoke.aspx.


About the Heartland Corridor and the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility

The Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility is part of the multi-state Heartland Corridor freight rail initiative, which will increase capacity and reduce freight shipping time between Hampton Roads, Va. and Chicago by up to 1.5 days.

Intermodal facilities serve as a transfer point for freight shipping between trucks and rail. Just one intermodal train has the equivalent carrying capacity of 200 long haul trucks, providing a competitive shipping option and reducing the number of trucks on highways.


About DRPT

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is the state agency for rail, transit, and congestion management. The agency’s mission is to improve mobility and expand transportation choices in Virginia . Visit us at http://www.drpt.virginia.gov.

April 8 news from RAILWAY TRACK & STRUCTURES Magazine:
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Virginia confirms Elliston as site of Roanoke Region intermodal facility

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation released its final report on the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility. DRPT, in coordination with industry experts and resources provided through a variety of relevant state agencies, project partners and engineering firms, conducted a comprehensive 16-month review of the 10 proposed site locations. Through this analysis, DRPT has concluded that the Elliston site is the only feasible site for the location of the Roanoke Region Intermodal Facility.

The site evaluation process included DRPT’s analysis of economic, public benefit, contractual and environmental factors for each site in addition to an independent analysis of Norfolk Southern’s review of each site for rail operations feasibility. The process culminated in a detailed review of three sites: the Colorado St. site submitted by the City of Salem, the Garman Virginian site in Roanoke County and the Elliston site in Montgomery County.

The Elliston site is located on the Heartland Corridor rail line, provides unimpeded access for both highway and rail traffic, and supports efficient intermodal operations at a total site cost of $35.5 million.

Local newspapers report that there is still some controversy over the Elliston site.