The State of Virginia wants to put up 2/3rds of the cost of a new private railyard in Montgomery County. County officials say it doesn't fit the character of the rural area, and have sued to stop it from being built.
The case is currently before the Virginia Supreme Court. Montogomery County hopes the decision will be to invalidate the public-private funding structure created by the state. The case was thrown out in a lower court, so the county pressed on to the higher court.
Reporter Jeff Sturgeon writes, "In spite of being the target of a lawsuit, the railroad bought some of the land for the project and demolished two houses, a barn and silo. But since those preliminary steps, it paused efforts to construct the Elliston yard."
FULL STORY: Elliston intermodal rail yard remains source of discord

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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