“The amount of public input from Ashland has been significant,” Smith said. “We are asking the FRA to let us study the Hanover and Ashland area a little further.”

In November, Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing both the option for adding a rail line west of Ashland in the county and construction of a third track through the town. In September, Ashland officials hired lobbyists to push back against the idea of adding a third track through town. Ashland and Hanover officials have both called for more engagement with DRPT.

Local residents have spoken up, too, and in the case of Families Under the Rail, organized to have their voices heard.

Smith said there are still two key pieces of information that need to come out before the CTB makes its recommendation to the federal government. The first is to get feedback from the Federal Railroad Administration on the draft environmental impact study DRPT sent the agency in November. The second is more public input. Smith said there is no set timeline for how these events will play out.

Ashland Mayor Jim Foley, who attended Tuesday’s CTB meeting, said DRPT’s recommendation for more time to study the Ashland area was something of a victory for the town.