This grant will fund the project planning phase of relocating approximately 3.1 miles of the norfolk southern elkton-dayton (EB) line north out of densely populated areas of harrisonburg including…

The City of Harrisonburg received a $300,000 Project Grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Program (CFDA 20.327) awarded May 1, 2025, with a completion date of March 31, 2027. This grant funds the project planning phase for relocating approximately 3.1 miles of the Norfolk Southern Elkton-Dayton rail line northward out of densely populated areas of Harrisonburg and James Madison University (JMU) campus to serve growing industrial areas in the city and Rockingham County. The planning phase will update and expand upon a 2005 feasibility study by analyzing recent population growth, planned development, and new funding opportunities.

The grant-funded planning activities will examine the feasibility of eliminating 10 highway-rail grade crossings and 8 pathway-rail grade crossings along the existing Norfolk Southern corridor, study alternative track relocation routes, evaluate rail trail conversion opportunities, and assess grade separation options at roadways the relocated line would cross. Project completion is anticipated to support reduced traffic congestion, enhanced motorist and pedestrian safety, improved railroad operations and efficiency, and increased industrial investment in Rockingham County's Innovation Village and Harrisonburg's ACORN Industrial Area.

This grant will fund the project planning phase of relocating approximately 3.1 miles of the norfolk southern elkton-dayton (EB) line north out of densely populated areas of harrisonburg including james madison university to serve growing industrial areas in the city of harrisonburg and rockingham county. All the at-grade crossings see high vehicle, bicycle, scooter, and pedestrian activity, presenting a serious safety risk that will only increase as the harrisonburg and JMU continue to grow. Track relocation would remove daily train traffic along this corridor from the densely populated areas of harrisonburg and james madison university (JMU) campus areas. Relocation of the EB line could reduce traffic congestion increase motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian safety promote enhanced public services and improve railroad operations. Additionally, relocation of the EB line could lead to increased train speeds, train frequency, and railroad efficiency, thereby spurring industrial investment and economic growth in the region, particularly in rockingham countys innovation village and harrisonburgs acorn industrial area.a train safety enhancement project feasibility study conducted in 2005 examined the possibility of relocating the EB line but did not advance past the feasibility phase. This project planning phase will update and build upon the former studys efforts by factoring in recent population growth, planned development, and new funding opportunities. In addition to analyzing the feasibility of eliminating 10 highway-rail grade crossings and 8 pathway-rail grade crossings along the existing norfolk southern corridor, this project planning phase will study new track relocation route alternatives, rail trail conversion, and opportunities for grade separation at roadways a relocated EB line would potentially cross.