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.' R-05-51 . A RESOLUTION URGING GOVERNOR MARK R. WARNER TO INCLUDE $45 MILLION IN HIS 2006-2008 BIENNIUM BUDGET PROPOSAL TO FUND THE WESTERN FREEWAY RAIL RELOCATION COMPONENT OF THE HEARTLAND CORRIDOR PROJECT, AND URGING APPROVAL OF THIS FUNDING BY THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WHEREAS, the Western Freeway Rail Relocation will relocate the rail line that serves as the eastern terminus of the Heartland Corridor to the median strip of Virginia Route 164, and eliminate the 14 dangerous grade separations in the Cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia, along that route; and, WHEREAS, the Heartland Corridor was designed to create a seamless, efficient intermodal rail route that will start at the Port of Virginia, cross West Virginia, and culminate in Columbus, Ohio, where it will link up with the existing Norfolk Southern network that is double- stack cleared to Chicago and the western rail networks; and, WHEREAS, all of the bridges that cross Virginia Route 164 were originally built to accommodate a dual set of rail tracks, and are already high enough for double-stack container trains; and, WHEREAS, the Western Freeway Rail Relocation will serve both the planned Craney Island Marine Terminal, which will entail an investment estimated to be in excess of$1.5 billion, and the new Maersk Marine Terminal that is currently under construction at an estimated cost of $500 million; and, . WHEREAS, according to state and regional economic development bodies, transportation planners, officials from the Virginia Port Authority, and leaders at the Norfolk Southern Corporation, the Heartland Corridor project is estimated to take five years to complete and cost $266 million, of which approximately $60 million will be needed to complete the Western Freeway Rail Relocation; and, WHEREAS, the federal transportation bill SAFETEA (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of2005) was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President on August 10, 2005, appropriating $15 million for the Western Freeway Rail Relocation; and, WHEREAS, in order to complete the Western Freeway Rail Relocation as a part of the Heartland Corridor project, approximately $45 million in additional funding will be needed; and, WHEREAS, it is anticipated that Virginia will receive certain federal funds from the Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Fund which may be expended for this purpose; and WHEREAS, the Heartland Corridor project will increase the competitive position of The Port of Virginia by cutting the present route to the Midwest by 250 miles, and exposing significant portions of the states along the route to more international trade; and, .