GREEN? Look at the Kaine Administration's transportation policy

in Western and Southwest Virginia. Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer has ramroded a plan for highway expansion for I-81.

Despite the economic, environmental, and public health chaos that would result from directing millions more diesel-belching trucks down I-81, that's exactly what Sec. Homer seeks to do.

Under Homer's direction, VDOT refused to look at a multi-state rail option when conducting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), despite requests from citizens to do so, including resolutions from 47 cities, counties and towns.

Homer pressed the Commonwealth Transportation Board to OK this flawed EIS. That means that 2/3rds of the 325-mile interstate will be doubled to 8-12 lanes, the rest to 6 lanes. Prior to serving as Secretary, Homer engineered contract talks between VDOT and Halliburton Corporation's spin off KBR toward a virtual privatization of I-81, one of Virginia's most valuable assets.

Think about the potential savings in greenhouse if through-state freight could be shipped by time-competitive rail service. Typically, rail saves 3/4 of the fuel 4/5ths of the emissions.

Imagine the impact on the beautiful Shenandoah Valley battlefields and mountain top views of Southwest Virginia if millions more diesel-powered trucks, spewing particulates and oxides invade our valleys. Those emissions would be trapped by our picturesque ridges. Several communities and parks from the Great Smoky Mountains N.P. and Knoxville to Shenandoah N.P. and Harriburg are already non-attainment areas for particulate and/or low-level ozone. How will Homer's plans affect public health? What happens if there are fuel supply interruptions, or oil production peaks, or if a carbon cap and trade program is introduced? Virginia will have blown her resources on an empty freight toll truckway and economic chaos will ensue.

Homer refused to hold up the EIS for the I-81 Freight Rail Study, passed unanimously by the General Assembly in 2006 and due to be completed this year. This study by Norfolk Southern Railroad and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation is investigating the public benefit of a public-private partnership to build a dual-track, grade-separated railroad from Knoxville, TN, to Harrisburg, PA. Such a railroad would divert 60% of the long-haul trucks (57%) from I-81 to truck-time competitive rail service. The freight rail study offers the possibility of a far cheaper alternative to the $10-12 billion I-81 expansion plan that Homer pushes. Thank God there's no money to build it, since war profiteer KBR backed out of it's proposal to privatize I-81 into a gigantic New Jersey Turnpike-type truck toll way. Rail could potentially divert 35% of all trucks and all the freight growth.

Homer refused to meet with I-81 Corridor rail advocates. VDOT Commissioner David Ekern is responding similarly. This behavior is at odds with former Secretary Whitt Clement and former VDOT Commissioner Phillip Shucet, who welcomed dialog with citizens during the Warner administration. Now, seven citizens organizations: National Trust for Historic Preservation, Scenic Virginia, APVA Preservation Virginia, Virginia Organizing Project, Valley Conservation Council, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council and Sierra Club have joined Coalition for Smarter Growth and the Shenandoah Valley Network in suing the Federal Highway Administration for accepting VDOT's I-81-widening EIS without ever considering a multi-state rail alternative.

Governor Kaine appointed Homer despite the best efforts of environmental community. Is Homer running this show alone or is Governor Kaine quietly supporting him in the background?

Want more information? Go to www.railsolution.org

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