Norton Thanks FHWA for Granting Her Request to Delay Record of Decision for CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will delay the issuance of the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project's Record of Decision (ROD) until after September 15, 2014, as Norton requested, to allow oversight of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) by the D.C. Council. Norton sent a letter to FHWA on August 5 asking that the issuance of the ROD be delayed from mid-August until after September 15.

"I appreciate FHWA's decision to delay the ROD as a courtesy to the District of Columbia Council Committee of the Whole and Committee on Transportation and Environment to allow their oversight hearing on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel project on August 26," Norton said. "It is the Council's obligation to D.C. residents to provide appropriate oversight of the project, and it is only fair that FHWA respect the time needed to accomplish this obligation."

In June, Norton requested that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) review period for the project be extended from 30 to 90 days, as well as an additional public meeting. FHWA agreed to extend the review period to 60 days, and a second public meeting took place on July 31, 2014.

CSX's Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project is privately funded, but there are some federal and D.C. properties that will be impacted by construction, necessitating FHWA and DDOT approvals. In addition, a number of residents have raised concerns about the proximity and duration of the proposed tunnel construction, which would run close to their homes.

Norton has been working closely with the community. She hosted two community meetings with the surrounding community near Capitol Hill, the FHWA, DDOT, and CSX. She also attended a July 1 public meeting, the first of two on the Final EIS, hosted by FHWA, DDOT and CSX.