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The Western Carolina Rail Corridor Committee The comnuttee dedicated to the restoration of Passenger Rail Service to Western North Carolina October 14, 2003 Chairperson ~ Cabarrus County Box 707 Concord, NC 28025 Dear Chairperson .f~mel: Asheville Black Mountain Old Fort Marion Morganton Valdese Hickory Statesville Salisbury Please accept this letter as our invitation to join us in presenting a North Carolina Statewide Passenger Rail Initiative to our legislators across our great state. Attached you will find a resolution to be presented to your board for adoption. This initiative will support efforts already underway in Western North Carolina and Southeastern North Carolina for future passenger rail service from Wilmington and/or Morehead City to Asheville on CSX, Norfolk Southern and North Carolina rail road systems. The future passenger service will be integrated into service on ~xisting freight lines, which will require upgrading. The freight service will continue to have priority scheduling. Given increased homeland security concerns and greater awareness of our environmental responsibilities, this service will provide the alternative mode of transportation needed throughout our state and our country. Additionally, rail service will contribute to growth, economic development, and the enhancement of our communities. There is great excitement and support for this service across our region. On August 15, 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the cities of Morganton, Marion and Old Fort celebrated the beginning of a year-long restoration and renovation project of those cities' passenger stations. The NCDOT is conducting a feasibility study along the Wilmington and Morehead City corridors, and work continues relating to our state's role in development of the high speed rail corridor running from New England to Florida. The WNC Rail Corridor Committee, which is comprised of representatives from each of the nine communities listed above, has for several years served as the group around which we have all organized to stay informed and to keep the momentum going. On behalf of that committee, I am writing to thank you and your fellow county commissioners for your support to date and to ask for your continued support as we take our next, and possibly most important step. The project now requires the support of the entire North Carolina General Assembly, and we must actively advocate in a unified and collective voice. To that end, we are proposing a resolution to be adopted by the city councils, county commissioners, chambers of commerce boards, and other organizations from each of our communities Phone: 828-669-3720 · Fax: 828-669-6618 953 Old US Highway 70, Black Mountain NC 28711