CITIZENS FOR A BETTER EASTERN SHORE ™ ShoreLineA Journal of Natural Resources, Public Affairs and Culture on the Eastern Shore of Virginia Volume 31 October 2018 Number 10 The Railroad Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore Compiled from publicly available resources ince 1884, trains have run up and finances and operational decisions, tax dollars have been poured into Sdown the Eastern Shore – at first including the operation of the Eastern the railroad to support operations, from Cape Charles to Pocomoke City Shore Railroad. Canonie is wholly among other things. A March 11, with connections north – and then owned by the A-NTDC, has several 2000, Virginian-Pilot article reported with barges, designed by founder a $6.6 million appropriation by Alexander Cassatt, large enough the General Assembly for the to carry 18 railroad cars across the Eastern Shore Railroad, made on Bay to and from Little Creek in the final day of the session. The Norfolk. Freight, produce, and pas- funds, which would be funneled sengers used the railroad the way through VDOT, were either for a highways and commuter flights are “new transit vehicle and equipment used today. Co-founder William program,” or to fix the tracks, or to Scott financed construction of the retire debt to make it easier to sell the railroad – depending on who town of Cape Charles, the railroad’s A dilapidated engine stands on weed-strewn was trying to explain the largesse. Eastern Shore terminus. tracks in the Cape Charles railroad yard. But after the Great Depression, However, according to the Vice- as automobiles became more afford- shared Board members, and several President for Operations at the time, able, rail passenger numbers declined. additional Board members appointed the railroad was not for sale. And in 1958, passenger service on the by the A-NTDC. But since Canonie In 2009, Bay Coast reported to line was discontinued. Twenty years is a private corporation, in spite of the A-NTDC that it had suspended after that, there was news that the 100% ownership by a public body, its service of the barge used to ferry whole rail line would be shut down. meetings and financial records have rail cars between Cape Charles and been closed to public view, and even Little Creek because of structural Plans to Save the Railroad – Public or to A-NTDC Board members. The only deficiencies. The report continued: Private, or Both apparent mention of Canonie Atlantic “The railroad does not have funds to In an effort to save freight service in the A-NTDC minutes is the annual invest in the repair of the car float. In on the Shore, the two Virginia Eastern Board appointments – no annual See Railroad, cont’d on p. 5 Shore counties formed the Accomack- reports, no audit information, no profit Northampton Transportation District and loss statements are recorded. Contents Commission (A-NTDC), a public In 2005, Cassatt Management, The Railroad Doesn’t Stop Here body. The commission purchased LLC, founded by Dickie Foster, Anymore .............................................. 1 the rail line in 1976. In September developer of Bay Creek, replaced the Be Sure to Vote! ..........................................2 1981, the Eastern Shore Railroad, Inc. Eastern Shore Railroad as the line’s Stakeholders Work on Phase III Plan for (ESHR) was formed and became the operator. The line was renamed the Chesapeake Bay Program...........................3 operator of the line. Bay Coast Railroad and entered into a Inconsistencies Arise in Groundwater A month later, in October 1981, 30-year lease with Canonie to operate Meetings ......................................................4 a private corporation was formed the rail line. A Rose by Any Other Name .......................5 called Canonie Atlantic Company. Where Did the Operations Revenue Keeping Track ........................................6 All the railroad real estate and equip- Come From? Celebrating 30 Years of ShoreLine ........7 ment was transferred to Canonie, which then controlled the railroad’s Over the years, millions of state Community Calendar .............................8 ShoreLine Page 2 Be Sure to Vote! uesday, November 6, is Election service-connected, permanent, and websites for Accomack County (www. TDay. Polls will be open from 6:00 total disability be amended to allow co.accomack.va.us/departments/ AM to 7:00 PM. Candidates on the the surviving spouse to move to a registrar) and Northampton County ballot will be: diff erent primary residence and still (www.co.northampton.va.us/gov/ U.S. Senator: claim the exemption? registrar/index.html). Tim Kaine (D) There will also be spe- Corey Stewart (R) cial elections for Accomack County Commissioner of Matt J. Waters (L) PAID HELP WANTED U.S. Representative, Congressional Revenue, Northampton County District 2: Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Cape CBES Bike Tour Charles Member Town Council; and Elaine Luria (D) Mayoral and Town Council elec- Coordinator for 2019 Scott Taylor (R) tions for Bloxom, Eastville, Melfa, Be a part of the There will also be 2 ballot Nassawadox, Onley, and Painter. oldest and largest questions on proposed Constitutional Amendments (for background Key dates to remember: bike tour on the information, see https://www. • October 15 is the last day to regis- Shore. Have fun elections.virginia.gov/election- ter to vote or update your address. working with our wonderful volunteers law/proposed-constitu tional- • October 30 is the last day to amendment-2018/index.html): request that an absentee ballot be as well as cyclists from all over. The successful candidate will be detail-ori- Question: Should a county, city, or mailed to you. If you mail your town be authorized to provide a partial absentee ballot, it must be received entated, with keen organizational tax exemption for real property that by 7:00 PM on Election Day. skills to handle the many moving is subject to recurrent fl ooding, if • November 3 is the last day to parts of the bike tour process. Must be fl ooding resiliency improvements have vote absentee in person at the able to work under pressure. been made on the property? Registrar’s Offi ce. Event planning experience a plus. Question: Shall the real property tax Democracy requires participation Flexible hours throughout 2019, to exemption for a primary residence that at every level, and every vote and include training hours with current is currently provided to the surviving every election counts. For more coordinator in 2018 if possible. spouses of veterans who had a 100% information, and details on polling Contact [email protected] or 757- locations, visit the Registrars’ 678-7157 for more information. ShoreLine is published monthly by Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore and is distributed RAFFLE to WIN to members, public offi cials, and friends. All material herein is copyrighted © 2018 by Between the Waters 2018 Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore. by popular Shore artist, Bethany Simpson Editorial Board CBES thanks LEMON TREE Donna Bozza Eleanor Gordon GALLERY, Cape Charles, for showcasing Gene Hampton Sue Mastyl Mary Miller John T. Ordeman this striking Coastal Folk Art painting Arthur Upshur at their 301 Mason Avenue studio (757- Editorial Advisor Emeritus 331-4327). Come savor Bethany’s works F. Victor Schmidt as well as those of other talented Shore Staff Photographer artists and artisans! Cecil Watts Editor/Design Raffl e tickets cost $20 or 3 for $50, Sarah Morgan, Savoy Studio and are available at Lemon Tree or online at www.cbes.org. The drawing will take How to reach CBES P.O. Box 882, Eastville, VA 23347 place on December 1, 2018. (757) 678-7157 th [email protected] • www.cbes.org All proceeds benefi t CBES 26 Annual Between the Waters Bike Tour and its mission: Printed on Sustainably Produced Paper Pedal to Protect Virginia’s Eastern Shore. October 2018 Page 3 Stakeholders Work on Phase III Plan for Chesapeake Bay Program by Sue Mastyl o date, 3 meetings have been held with stakeholders the Phase II WIPs in 2012. A mid-point assessment of the Tin the community to develop the Phase III Watershed Bay in 2017 showed improved oxygen levels, decreased Implementation Plan (WIP) for the Chesapeake Bay phosphorus loads, and rebounding populations of blue crab, Program. The plan, which will identify non-point source bay anchovy, and striped bass, but still showed excessive best management practices (BMPs) to achieve the necessary nitrogen pollutant loads and poor water clarity. reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment to meet At the August 22 Chesapeake Bay Stakeholder the 2025 goals for the Bay, is being coordinated by Planning Advisory Group meeting, Lucinda Power, Acting District Commissions Associate Director, (PDCs) and Soil & A mid-point assessment of the Bay in 2017 showed EPA Chesapeake Bay Water Conservation improved oxygen levels, decreased phosphorus loads, and Program, reported that Districts (SWCDs) in rebounding populations of blue crab, bay anchovy, and Virginia has achieved each region of the state 79%, 99%, and 54% of within the Bay water- striped bass, but still showed excessive nitrogen pollutant loads and poor water clarity. the reductions in nitro- shed, including the gen, phosphorus, and James River Watershed, sediment, respectively, the York River Watershed, the Rappahannock River targeted for 2025. However, it was also reported, by James Watershed, the Potomac-Shenandoah River Watershed, and Davis-Martin of DEQ, that further reductions of 38% the Chesapeake Bay Coastal Watershed (which includes for nitrogen and 6% for phosphorus would be required, the Eastern Shore as well as portions of the Northern Neck, beyond the 2017 progress, for the Eastern Shore. Middle Peninsula, and Hampton Roads). Goals for Phase III Two of these meetings, on August 23 and September 21, involved community members working with A-NPDC During Phase III, the goal is to fi ne-tune the recom- and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) mendations in the plan based on local knowledge, and to on the WIP III for developed (residential), natural, and refl ect what’s already been done as well as realistic goals septic BMPs.