Effective and Less Destructive Alternatives to Expanding I-81

SELC has continued to promote more effective and less destructive alternatives to expanding I-81, including improving rail lines in the corridor to reduce truck volume on the highway, upgrading road networks to route local traffic away from the interstate, and targeted improvements to enhance the safety and efficiency of the existing highway. For example, we have pressed state officials to conduct an honest, thorough analysis of the potential for multi-state rail improvements in the corridor. A draft truck-to-rail diversion study called for by the General Assembly, which was released in December 2009, has a number of flaws, but it does show the enormous potential for moving freight from the road to rails.