---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roger Diedrich <rdiedrich@cox.net>
Date: Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Subject: Steel Interstate Campaign
To: jimscon@gmail.com, gnuser@gmail.com

Jim, Jonathan,

For several years, the Virginia Chapter has had concerns about attempts to expand I-81 for trucks, although we have generally followed the lead of a separate organization, RAIL SOLUTION. While the proposal has been blunted, it is not dead, and we want to offer a positive alternative, hence the name of our partner organization, and the Steel Interstate concept. They would like to elevate the effort to a broader scale, and asked if the Sierra Club would take on such a role. This makes sense to us, as a general proposition. Such a campaign could be a part of the Club's Green Transportation Campaign. National staff tells us they are not positioned (funded) to take this on, but they are interested. The case can be made that moving freight to rail is an important GHG reduction strategy.

So why are we approaching the WV Chapter? The corridor we are focused on runs from Memphis TN to Harrisonburg. PA, and only comes close to West Virginia. Somewhere I read that it might serve Martinsburg. Regardless, we are trying to enlist some level of support for the concept, so that the national folks can begin to see this as more of a regional, maybe even national effort. So you might be considered "in the I-81 Corridor". We would like to have you adopt a supporting resolution and designate a point of contact on an evolving campaign. It will be quite low key for now.

Two resolutions are attached: one for general endorsement of the Steel Interstate concept and a second one for general endorsement of the concept and endorsement of the prototype demonstration. The second one can also be used as a model for any other regional initiative. The Virginia Chapter has adopted the regional version, although this looks to be a somewhat cleaner version.

The SI concept is defined on this site: http://www.railsolution.org/projects/steel-interstate-demonstration.html

Also, check out our Sierra Club Steel Interstate Team at: http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Steel_Interstate
Maybe someone from your leadership would be willing to sign up as a member.

Let me know your thinking on this, but perhaps I will give one of you a call in a few days.

Roger Diedrich
Smart Growth and Transportation Chair
Sierra Club, VA Chapter
703-352-2410