Received the following via email.
August 19, 2010
Major Crescent Corridor Improvements Completed
Six projects will help ease traffic congestion on I-81
RICHMOND, VA. - A critical choke point on Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor has been eliminated with a reconfigured rail junction near Front Royal, Va. This was the final and most complex of six capacity improvement projects in Northern Virginia to handle more trains at higher speeds.
Funded by $43 million from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and nearly $20 million from Norfolk Southern, the projects lengthened or built new passing tracks between Manassas, Va., and Front Royal, installed five miles of double track near the Virginia Inland Port, improved signal and traffic control systems, and increased train speeds through Riverton Junction near Front Royal.
"The completion of these I-81 corridor improvements will benefit both freight and passenger rail service in Virginia," said DRPT Director Thelma Drake. "This capacity will attract more trucks from the highways to trains, as well as facilitate future passenger expansion in Northern Virginia."
"With these improvements, we can move more trains faster through Northern Virginia," said John Friedmann, Norfolk Southern vice president Strategic Planning. "This is a significant milestone in increasing the freight capacity of the Crescent Corridor in Virginia, and a prime example of a successful public-private partnership at work."
The Crescent Corridor initiative supports the Commonwealth's goals for improving freight transportation in Virginia while facilitating passenger improvements.
About the Crescent Corridor
The Crescent Corridor consists of a program of improvements to infrastructure and other facilities geared toward creating a seamless, high-capacity Intermodal route spanning 11 states from New Jersey to Louisiana and offering truck-competitive service along several major interstate highway corridors, including I-81, I-85, I-20, I-40, I-59, and I-75. More than $2 billion in projects have been identified to improve freight rail service and reduce interstate highway congestion.
About DRPT
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is the state agency for rail, transit and commuter services in Virginia. DRPT's mission is to improve mobility and expand transportation choices in Virginia.
About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
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Contacts:
Robin Chapman, Norfolk Southern
757-629-2713
robin.chapman@nscorp.com
Jennifer Pickett, DRPT
804-786-7432
Jennifer.Pickett@drpt.virginia.gov