Eastern Railroad Discussion > D.C. "Va. Ave Tunnel" lawsuit tries to STOP project

It's preaching to the choir, on railfan website such as Trainorders.com, to say that expanding rail infrastructure such as the "Virginia Ave. Tunnel" under part of Washington, D.C. is a prudent and good choice for the nation's economy and for transportation in general, as the nation thrives where transportation is fluid - and that's multiple modes: rail, highway, maritime, air, etc.

But it's still gonna happen, and here it's starting all over again. The "NIMBYS" in D.C. are suing to STOP the Va. Ave. Tunnel expansion, and God Only knows how long this "might" delay the start of the project. Maybe cooler heads will prevail and it will not be delayed. Time will tell. READ ON....

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/freight/class-i/suit-filed-to-block-csx-dc-tunnel-plan.html?channel=50&utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RGN+11.14.14&utm_content=Full+Article

KEY TEXT EXCERPT:
"...The group's lawsuit alleges that the environmental review did not consider using the CSX-owned right-of-way at Shepherds Branch, which DDOT has proposed using for the city's planned streetcar system..."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/14 12:32 by rbx551985.

That would also require the renewal of the WWII era "Emergency Bridge."

http://ctr.trains.com/en/Railroad%20Reference/Operations/2001/12/The%20history%20of%20Baltimore%20and%20Ohios%20Shepherd%20Branch.aspx

TL

They don't really care about the tunnel or stopping the project. They want to scream and then be hushed up with a big payoff for alleged "discrimination." Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson will laugh all the way to the bank.

As if the wealthy in Alexandria would approve a rebuild of the connecting line on their side of the river. Several grade crossings there, not to mention a curve with tight radius that, I assume, would limit trains to 10 or 15 mph. But I suppose it would be one way to get rid of the hulk of the former Pepco plant.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They don't really care about the tunnel or
> stopping the project. They want to scream and
> then be hushed up with a big payoff for alleged
> "discrimination." Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson
> will laugh all the way to the bank.


In fairness, after Bobby Rush and Jesse Jr stopped the Englewood Flyover, talks happened. And the project moved forward with lightning speed. No problems with the neighborhood, and local folks were represented in the construction teams. Sounds like a win for everyone.

Look up the Rainbow Coalition sometime.

In fairness, Virginia Ave tunnel should be day lighted and environmentally properly constructed. The people that would be disrupted or moved as a result should be very well compensated for their inconvenience and loss of neighborhood and friends. It should be presented to them so they can understand that, if they are low income (which they are) they can become financially comfortable. If CSX, the District of Columbia, and all the other Government agencies would follow this premise then the project might proceed. You do not have to make them millionaires....whatever that is.... you just have to be fair with them and make them feel they will be significantly better off than the status quo. If CSX's double stack proposal via this route cannot financially justify that then it should fail; they have another route, because CSX only wants to go west with the double stack business, to try and compete with NS which already has one, on a much shorter route.

CSX continues to maintain that they cannot clear high cube double stacks on the route from the Southeast to the New Jersey/NYC market due to tunnel problems in Baltimore and some slight ones around Philadelphia. If improving clearances to NJ/NYC were in their plans then the Virgina Ave clearance project would have even more impact. From watching trains I could prove that 80%, maybe more, of CSX's North/South intermodal traffic is domestic 9'6 high containers. I do not think CSX wants this potential or find a way to make it happen. They are happy enough with what they have now.

If the proposal assumes an increase in traffic through the area after the tunnel has been completed,the neighbors may have a case for a stringent EPA etc review if that wasn't done in the original study. More traffic = more diesel exhaust, lower quality of life, etc.

If the original review was incomplete, then seeking a correctly executed study is necessary. If the original study met the letter of the law, then the court should throw out the request and let the work continue.

Given that the DC government is involved, I wonder if this project was green lighted for friends of the former mayor, and the new mayor is looking for a similar favor? The DC municipal government has long been known for cronyism and inside dealing, so this isn't a huge leap.

Depends on how 'an increase in traffic' is interprted. If you run 120 wells of single stack cons thru there now from Portsmouth to Ohio, which has been done on q130/139 or replacement symbols since then. Now you clear it for double stacks, and you run the same 120 wells thru there with 240 instead of 120 cons, is that an increase in traffic? Sure, if you count cons. If you count cars or wells or locos maybe not. Tonnage yeas. What is the basis? Will it increase loco emmissions ot noise? I doubt it, because it is essentially level. So what is the legal argument?