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Although the Council of the District of Columbia’s law banning hazardous-material shipments within 2.2 miles of the city remains in litigation because of opposition by the rail and trucking industries, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation has contracted Parsons Brinckerhoff to study alternative alignments for a freight-rail line that would bypass the nation’s capitol.

The consulting firm will recommend potential alignments; evaluate each route’s environmental, community and security impacts; and analyze engineering and operational characteristics, and costs. The study will be completed in early 2007.

The D.C. DOT commissioned the study to identify an alignment that can improve haz-mat security, and reduce freight- and passenger-rail congestion in the region. By relocating the line away from the heart of the city, the department also could redevelop the existing railroad right of way.