Cranes looming over the Port of Virginia viewed from the waterfront in Norfolk. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

Virginia plans to increase the use of freight rail to transport goods by partnering with the Port of Virginia, according to the draft 2022 Statewide Rail Plan published on Wednesday.

Using freight services to transport goods is expected to help relieve traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions and yield annually $2.1 billion in benefits.

“The fact that we’re looking at it and talking about it and looking for ways to improve it, we think it’s a sign of strength, and it will help our overall efforts to expand,” said Joseph Harris, spokesman for the Port of Virginia.

Harris said the plan is critical due to the port’s growth and expansion of the central rail yard at Norfolk International Terminals, which is expected to process 1.1 million rail lifts annually. He said the port’s rail volume is up by 4%, or about 446,000 containers, versus 428,000 containers moved by rail during the pandemic.

Jennifer DeBruhl, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said the previous plan included recommendations for freight investments, but the draft plan calls for transportation officials to be “much more strategic” with their partners.

With the increase in freight transportation, DeBruhl said transportation officials want to help facilitate “the growth of business in the commonwealth” and “support that economic growth with rail” while improving travel on highways.

Total rail tonnage is expected to grow by 60% between 2017 and 2045. Coal has been the primary commodity carried by rail, chemicals, and allied products.

DRPT has committed close to $50 million under the existing rail plan through its grant program.

According to the plan, Virginia is expected to invest $5.8 billion into 174 rail projects. The plan states that about $227.9 million will go to freight projects in the next six years and another $213.8 million afterward. The remaining investments will go to passenger rail projects expected to yield annually $171 million in benefits.

The plan, which is open for public comment until Oct. 27, is scheduled to be finalized in November. Comments can be submitted to drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

Share the News:

On September 29, 2022,  Governor Glenn Youngkin released the following statement on George Mason University’s decision to keep tuition flat for in-state students:

“Today, George Mason University joined the 14 other public college and university boards, which serve more than a quarter-million undergraduate college students in Virginia, by pledging to keep tuition flat for in-state students. Early on in my administration, I encouraged all colleges and universities to take on this challenge, and I am pleased that now all of Virginia’s students will have the opportunity to pursue their higher education at every public college, university, and community college in the Commonwealth free from tuition hike fears. I’m grateful to the boards and the presidents of these institutions; this is a critical step in easing the burden on Virginia’s families and students during a time of high inflation and cost of living.”

Share the News:

The state Capitol. (Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

• Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to prepare for heavy rain from Hurricane Ian.—Virginian-Pilot

• Roanoke’s Democratic mayor says the state got “soft on crime” under Democratic control and wants his city to consider tougher policies like stop-and-frisk to reduce gun violence. “We’ve got to get more punitive.”—Roanoke Rambler

• “Youngkin and his national ambitions straddle the ‘big lie’ divide.”—Washington Post

• Abortion and the economy are the issues driving Virginia’s closely watched congressional matchup between Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Yesli Vega.—Washington Post

• The University of Richmond removed the name of a slave owner, T.C. Williams, from its law school.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Mattaponi tribal leaders are working to bring back the Algonquin language.—Tidewater Review

• The prosecution of a Chesterfield County detective accused of altering search warrants hit a snag when a judge ruled “malfeasance in office” isn’t actually a crime in Virginia.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

by Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

Share the News:

Candie Marie Calix, 40, of Front Royal, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for her role as a ringleader of an oxycodone distribution network. She pleaded guilty in June.

Calix worked as an office manager for an Arlington physician who prescribed her nearly 40,000 oxycodone 30-milligram pills and more than 9,000 oxycodone 15-milligram pills over a 10-year-period. The doctor also prescribed similar quantities to Calix’s relatives and acquaintances who were working with her to distribute the pills.

“These quantities were far in excess of therapeutic doses, and Calix personally distributed or directed others to distribute most of the pills,” a U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia news release stated.

Prosecutors said that she recruited at least 12 people in the Front Royal area to be “patients” of the doctor and obtain large quantities of oxycodone. Those “patients”, who included her mother, grandparents, great-grandmother, brother, and husband, then kicked some of the pills back to Calix to redistribute. Prosecutors say the Calix recruited people whom she knew to be already addicted to opiates.

Calix and her accomplices sold some of the pills for $25 apiece, earning at least $5,000 a month. She has agreed to a money judgment of more than $500,000, representing the proceeds she realized during the conspiracy.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after Wednesday’s sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Rumbaugh prosecuted the case.

Trio of Front Royal women plead guilty to oxycodone distribution ring

Share the News:

The Front Royal Town Council at its regular meeting Monday evening approved three short-term rentals, though one applicant must obtain a special exemption from the parking requirement before the property can be legally rented.

Vice Mayor Lori A. Cockrell, who led the meeting in Mayor Chris Holloway’s absence, and council members Gary L. Gillispie, Zachary Jackson, Amber F. Morris and Letasha T. Thompson voted unanimously to approve a special-use permit allowing a short-term rental in the Historic District, at 12 Chester St. The panel made the approval of the permit contingent on the applicant, Lea Justice, obtaining a special exception from the parking requirement.

Council members discussed speeding up the process by approving the exception so Justice can begin renting the apartment during the peak “leaf-peeping” season. Justice applied for the permit so that she could rent an upstairs apartment to no more than four people.

Justice already applied for the special exception from the parking requirements.  Planning Director Lauren Kopishke told the panel that the special exception application must be considered by the Planning Commission—at a work session, followed by a regular meeting –for potential action.

Following that process, the council would need to act on the exception before Justice could legally rent the property on a short-term basis.  Town Attorney George Sonnett Jr. advised council that they should follow the procedures for a special exception rather than approving the request at the same time as the permit.

Bruce Rappaport spoke in favor of Justice’s application, saying he was “pleased to hear” that the property would be a short-term rental.  He cited the fact that Downtown Front Royal was a destination as well as the fact that it was zoned commercial C-2.

Council approved a short-term rental application for 12 Chester Street, owned by Lea Justice, with the contingency that she obtains a special exemption from the parking requirement. / Courtesy photo

Council approved a short-term rental application for 12 Chester Street, owned by Lea Justice, with the contingency that she obtains a special exemption from the parking requirement. /Courtesy photo.

The council also considered and approved two other short-term rental proposals. Members voted 5-0 in favor of a motion to approve a special-use permit requested by William and Melissa Gordon for a short-term rental at 107 Highfield Lane, zoned residential R-1.

Mr. Gordon addressed the council during the public hearing, stating that he would cap rentals of the five-bedroom home to 10 occupants. The property provides onsite driveway parking for up to four vehicles. The Planning Commission recommended that the council approve the permit with no conditions.

Doug Hovest and Marlene Lundberg, both residents of the neighborhood, each said at the public hearing they opposed allowing a short-term rental on the street because visitors unfamiliar with the street might not obey the speed limit and could endanger children.  John Lundberg addressed the council, asking they consider postponing a vote on the permit so that he and other neighbors could talk with the Gordons and address concerns.

Thompson said she understood the neighbors’ concerns about child safety, though visitors would be in the neighborhood with or without short-term renters.  She suggested warning signs to alert drivers to children in the neighborhood.

Morris said she didn’t think the neighborhood would see more than a few vehicles at a time, and any complaints filed with the Planning and Zoning Department would be reviewed and addressed as necessary.  She indicated that the council could revoke a permit if necessary.

Council members approved a special-use permit requested by Philip Vaught and Vaught Real Estate LLC for a short-term rental at 124 Luray Ave. zoned residential R-3. Vaught plans to rent five rooms to no more than 10 people. The property provides onsite driveway parking for up to seven vehicles.  The Planning Commission recommended that the council approve the permit.  West Main Street resident Bruce Rappaport voiced his concern regarding the property becoming a short-term rental.  He told the council that a “transient aspect” might occur that could affect the value of surrounding homes if the permit was approved.

Also at the meeting, council voted to approve:

• An ordinance to amend Town Code Chapter 4 on the administration of government with changes to time of council meetings, remote participation by electronic means and residency requirements for certain town employees. No one spoke at the public hearing.
• An increase in the fiscal 2023 budget of $19,976 in funds from the Virginia Tourism Corporation and to allocate the money to Discover Front Royal. The town will remit the funds to Discover Front Royal once it has established itself as a 501C-6 non-profit organization and established a bank account.
• An increase in the fiscal 2023 budget of $23,494 from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Safety Program and to allocate the money for reimbursement of overtime funds spent for speed and impaired driving enforcement operations.
• An increase in the fiscal 2023 of $2,276 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program and to allocate the money to help support public safety and crime prevention efforts.
• A contract amendment with Imperio Construction and to transfer $81,696 in the fiscal 2023 budget for the company to replace curb and gutter and install sidewalk along part of South Commerce Avenue, from Prospect Street to South Street.
• A sole-source procurement of services from Evoqua Water Technologies at a cost of $87,337 to make repairs to Clarifier #4 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• A task order for CHA Engineering for $49,000 to complete the development and implementation of a water backflow prevention program to meet state waterworks regulations.
• A bid award for de-icing road salt at a cost of $89.09 per ton to Morton Salt Inc.
• Bids for fiscal 2023 water and wastewater treatment chemicals.
• A contract amendment to Dominion Energy’s water and sewage service agreement with Front Royal to speed up payments from the company to the town totaling $3.5 million.
• The conversion of one custodian position from part-time to full-time. The town pays the part-time position $15.66 per hour for 28 days per week. Converting the position to full-time will cost an additional $30,996.
• A resolution to approve the form and authorize the execution of the 2022 Locust Ridge Energy Schedule with American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) Avingrid offered a 3-year power purchase agreement for wind power from its Locust Ridge Wind Project in eastern Pennsylvania with a fixed price of $47.50 per megawatt hour beginning in October through September 2025. American Municipal Power recommended that Front Royal commit to a 2-megawatt purchase to help hedge against the volatility of the wholesale power market and provide replacement power for a scheduled fall outage at the Prairie State Coal Fired Plant.
• A deed of easement granting the town easements for existing and new stormwater drainage infrastructure on property between Luray Avenue and Cherry Street owned by the Front Royal Presbyterian Church.

Council met in closed session to consult with legal counsel and discuss personnel.

Share the News: