North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has been awarded a $105 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to enhance rail infrastructure and improve passenger and freight services in the state’s busiest rail corridor.
Along with funding from NCRR, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Norfolk Southern (NS), the total project funding tops $170 million.
“Continued investment in passenger and commercial rail is good for our communities and economy across North Carolina,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “We are working together to make historic investments moving people and goods faster and safer, and I appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration and our federal delegation for their work securing this monumental investment.”
From January through June 2024, about 342,000 customers rode NC By Train, which is 20% higher than during the same period in 2023. There are currently 10 daily trains between Raleigh and Charlotte, and each month in 2024 has been record-breaking for that particular month. Last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation also announced a $1.1 billion grant supporting the S-Line, which will feature higher-speed rail and a direct route between Raleigh and Richmond.
“This is an extraordinary moment for North Carolina’s rail network,” said NCRR President and CEO Carl Warren. “Improved freight and passenger rail services will accommodate one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and will enable a new era of rail capacity in North Carolina. This is a significant win for the entire state.”
The Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements Project will bring key upgrades across seven locations, including Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Hillsborough, Burlington, and Greensboro, said Cooper. These improvements will allow for additional passenger trains and significantly reduce freight and passenger delays. Construction is slated to begin in 2025, following the design and environmental permitting phases.
