The meeting Gov. Tim Kaine wants will happen Friday.

Wayne Strickland, executive director of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, said Tuesday that the commission will host a discussion about Norfolk Southern Corp.'s plans to build an intermodal rail yard in the Montgomery County community of Elliston.

The state Department of Rail and Public Transportation declared April 7 that it is the only feasible site, but the state has not given the railroad permission to proceed with the project.

In a letter dated April 4, Kaine urged 15 heads of area governments from Franklin County to Covington "to convene as a region within the next 30 days to discuss your shared vision for transportation and economic development." Those same governments expressed support for the concept nearly two years ago, shortly before the rail company's chosen site became public.

"As far as I can tell, this may be the first time all these people have gotten together to talk about these issues since 2006," Strickland said.

The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Salem Civic Center.

-- Tim Thornton