WHEREAS, through the mechanism of the Inland Port at Front Royal, Virginia is able to collect truck-hauled containerized freight at the Inland Port in sufficient quantities to transport it in unit trains directly to the Ports of Hampton Roads, not only holding down costs paid by the shipper, but also eliminating a substantial number of trucks from the overcrowded long-haul highways of eastern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, by establishing another facility in Virginia, a network of intermodal transfer facilities might be established that could prove useful in reducing heavy truck traffic on other long-haul highways in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, an additional intermodal facility would represent a fundamentally different level of access to global markets; and

WHEREAS, combining multiple market access with other economic development tools would allow Danville to leverage itself for types of investment it today cannot easily attract due to the higher cost of freight transportation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Secretary of Transportation be requested to study the feasibility of establishing an additional intermodal transfer facility on U.S. Route 58 near Danville.

In conducting its study, the Secretary of Transportation shall consider the benefit to Danville as well as the rest of the Commonwealth and the costs associated with establishing another intermodal transfer facility, including potential funding sources such as federal funding sources; the transportation, port, and rail industry agencies; and the specific localities best situated for direct benefit.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Secretary of Transportation for this study, upon request.

The Secretary of Transportation shall complete his work by November 30, 2016, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of his findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2017 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.