Norfolk Southern Flexes Its Muscle

Tomorrow's MTC Red Line Task Force Meeting should be very interesting.

With a second scathing letter as many months, Norfolk Southern exposed some serious issues with the whole Red Line plan and approach.

At meeting after meeting, the project's consultants and supporters have said creating a unified body under a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) would smooth the way in negotiations with the company that owns the line. Now, NS says it is way too early to even be talking about forming a JPA for the effort. Additionally, the quick response from NCDOT this afternoon appears to be a complete flip flop from the oft repeated position that NCDOT needed to take the lead in negotiations with the company - seemingly putting the Red Line Task Force in the primary position.

Here's some more background information...

“In new letter, Norfolk Southern calls Red Line plan ‘fatally flawed’" - CorneliusNews.net
"Response: DOT official seeks meeting with Norfolk Southern" - DavidsonNews.net
"Norfolk Southern Slams Brakes On Red Line"- PunditHouse.com
"Norfolk Southern exec: Charlotte's Red Line commuter-rail plan 'fatally flawed'" - Charlotte Business Journal

Bonus Observation:

The Red Line story is beginning to sound a lot like the high speed rail saga unfolding in California.  See here and here for an eerily similar sounding story.