North Carolina Receives $105.6 Million Grant for Railroad Improvements
Governor Roy Cooper announced on Thursday that the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has been awarded a $105.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. This funding aims to enhance the railway infrastructure of North Carolina’s busiest corridor, facilitating improved passenger and freight services along the 317-mile stretch from Charlotte to Morehead City.
The total funding for the project, which includes contributions from NCRR, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and Norfolk Southern (NS), which manages freight operations on the line, amounts to $170 million. Officials assert that the grant is projected to yield $214.49 million in public benefits, including economic growth, enhanced safety, and environmental benefits.
"This is a historic moment for the railroad network in North Carolina," said Carl Warren, President and CEO of NCRR. "These improvements will accommodate one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and usher in a new era of railway capacity in North Carolina. Thanks to the support of Governor Cooper, Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, our bipartisan congressional delegation, and our railway partners, we are poised to modernize our railroad system, ensuring safe and efficient transport for both passengers and freight."
The project will feature improvements in seven locations including Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Hillsborough, Burlington, and Greensboro, allowing for additional passenger trains and significantly reducing delays for both freight and passenger services.
Construction is set to begin in 2025, following design and environmental permitting phases, with federal funds backed by $34 million in state contributions from NCDOT, $17.8 million from NCRR, and $13 million from Norfolk Southern. The CRISI program, managed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), supports initiatives aimed at modernizing U.S. rail infrastructure. The NC Railroad Company, established by statute in 1848, plays a crucial role in connecting the state’s commercial centers.
Source
Photo credit www.carolinajournal.com