Laserfiche WebLink
7 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR THE <br />RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING RAILROAD LINE TO THE MEDIAN OF <br />THE WESTERN FREEWAY AND REQUESTING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF <br />V~RGINIA TO TAKE SUCH STEPS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ASSURE <br />THE INITIATION AND COMPLETION OF THE RELOCATION PROJECT. <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia has authorized the execution of an agreement <br />between the City and the Virginia Department of Highways <br />and Transportation for the initiation of construction of <br />the first phase of the Western Freeway Project; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, as a result of a course of action undertaken <br />by this Council and with the assistance of the Portsmouth <br />Delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia, the design <br />for the Western Freeway had been revised to provide for <br />relocation of the existing NF&D Railroad Line to the median <br />of Routes 164 and 664 from Boone in the City of Chesapeake <br />to the termination of the rail line in the City of <br />Portsmouth; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the expansion of the use of the existing NF&D <br />line through commercial and residential areas of the cities <br />of Chesapeake and Portsmouth is detrimental to the quality <br />of life and unacceptable; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the relocation of the rail line to the median <br />of the proposed highways would have a positive economic and <br />environmental impact upon the cities of Portsmouth, <br />Chesapeake and Suffolk and the property owners affected <br />thereby; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Highways and <br />Transportation has indic%ted its support for the relocation <br />of the rail line and provided infcrmation confirming that <br />relocation to the median during the construction cf the <br />highways result in a substantial cost savings. <br /> <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the <br />City of Portsmouth requests that the Portsmouth Delegation <br />to the General Assembly of Virginia introduce and support <br />legislation assuring the relocation of the rail line to the <br />highway median and the appropriation of funds necessary for <br />the initiation and completion of the relocation project. <br /> <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of <br />Portsmouth, Virginia, that the City Clerk be, and she <br />hereby is, directed to forward copies of this resolution to <br />the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Senator <br />Johnny S. Joannou, Delegate william S. Moore, Jr., <br />Delegate Kenneth R. Melvin, and Ray D. Pethel, Commissioner <br />of the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation. <br /> <br /> <br />