Marty Gordon
With the purchase of five parcels of land alongside current rail lines near the Christiansburg Aquatics Center (CAC), Christiansburg leaders town council took another step toward a proposed passenger rail service.
The 6.82 acre tract with the majority lying to the south of the current double tracks is three parcels that would allow either a passenger platform or a station to be built there. The rest would be used for parking.
Councilman Brad Stipes pointed that out the land can also be used for overflow parking associated with events at CAC.
“It can serve two purposes for the town,” he said. The listed sales price with Community Housing Partners is $200,000.
While the property is designated as the site for the future regional passenger rail station that local officials had hoped would be operational by next year, the timetable has been slowed down because of the need for more information.
The greater picture would allow passenger rail service deep into southwest Virginia. Service into Roanoke, in place for two years, has been well-received.
Initially, the Virginia General Assembly approved $350,000 for a study to determine what improvements are needed to the current freight line in southwest Virginia. The study has to have the cooperation of Norfolk Southern, but so far, that has not happened.
Ray Smoot serves as the co-chair of a group called “New River Valley Passenger Rail 2020.”
“The town of Christiansburg, with the leadership of Mayor Barber, has been proactive in acquiring a site for a passenger station for passenger rail to serve the New River Valley,” he said Wednesday.
“The next step to bring passenger rail to the New River Valley is for Norfolk Southern to move forward on the request of the Commonwealth to undertake an operations study to identify what improvements to the railroad are necessary to carry passenger trains. The Commonwealth has committed funding for the study and is awaiting Norfolk Southern’s agreement to proceed,” he said.
The train station would be owned on a regional basis by localities throughout in the NRV, and early estimates say the facility would cost an estimated $4 million.
Passenger service in the area stopped in the mid-60s, but N&W continued its own version until 1979.
Student athletes, fire chief saluted, no tax increase and a code enforcement program
In other matters, the governmental body took a moment to salute several student athletes from Christiansburg High School. The following were recognized: the Christiansburg boys’ track team, 3A State Championship; Ethan Mills, 3A State champion in the 1,000- and 1,600 meters; Alex Watty, Trey Wilson, Ethan Wilson and Cooper Neeble, 4X800 relay 3A state champions; Rachel Lloyd, 3A state indoor champion in pole vault; Caleb Hatcher, 3A state swimming champion in diving; and Brandon Crowder, Nate Warden and Andy Smith, 3A state wrestling champions.
Council also took a moment to recognize former Fire Chief Jimmy Epperly for his long-time service. He passed away last month at the age of 75.
Also, council held a public hearing on the proposed “no tax increase” budget. No citizen spoke in the allotted time, so the group will now move ahead with the matter with a final vote expected in June.
The town’s tax rate would stay at 16 cents per $100, but residents will feel a slight increase in water rates.
Town manager Randy Wingfield said the increase on the water side of the budget is because of an increase by the regional water authority that sells water to the town. In addition, he said the monies would also help with much-needed upgrades in and around the town.
On average, the water rate will increase by $1.50 per 1,000 gallons used. The town is also considering a recommendation to raise the fee charged for a building permit by $10 to bring it into line with neighboring localities.
Wingfiled said the permit increase would help offset the costs of a proposed code enforcement program.
The final budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 does include a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all town employees at two percent.
