North Charlotte Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Thom Tillis has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will be providing $3.5 million in grant funding to identify potential new rail routes or improvements across North Carolina. This funding will be instrumental in transforming travel options for North Carolinians.

"This $3.5 million in grant funding to identify and develop potential rail lines across North Carolina could be transformational in how North Carolinians travel," said Senator Tillis. "I'm proud these investments were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped negotiate, write, and pass into law."

The grant funding will be allocated to several corridors for identification and development. The Charlotte to Washington, DC Corridor will receive $500,000 to improve the existing state-supported Carolinian service. The improvements will include constructing and rehabilitating a partially abandoned alignment between Raleigh, NC and Petersburg, VA, potentially reducing travel time by more than an hour.

Another $500,000 will be allocated to the Charlotte to Atlanta, Georgia Corridor. This corridor will provide new high-speed rail service between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA, with potential intermediate stops in South Carolina and Georgia. The service will terminate at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world's busiest airport.

The Charlotte to Kings Mountain Corridor will connect Kings Mountain, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. This corridor will provide new service on existing alignments with capacity improvements, as well as potential extensions to Kings Mountain.

The Winston-Salem to Raleigh Corridor will connect Winston-Salem, NC with Raleigh, NC, with intermediate stops at Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, and Cary. This corridor will complement the existing state-supported Piedmont and Carolinian services and will include new frequencies, reliability improvements, and new stations.

The Fayetteville to Raleigh Corridor will provide a new service connecting Fayetteville, NC with Raleigh, NC, with intermediate stops at Lillington and Fuquay-Varina, NC, using an existing alignment.

The Wilmington to Raleigh Corridor will connect Raleigh, NC to Wilmington, NC. This corridor will provide new service on an existing alignment, which will require reconstruction and the addition of new stations.

Lastly, the Asheville to Salisbury Corridor will provide new service on an existing alignment between Asheville and Salisbury in western North Carolina. This corridor will revive a line that last hosted passenger trains in 1975.

The grants are part of the larger Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that aims to improve transportation infrastructure across the country. For more information on specific infrastructure grants, visit the DOT website.

These investments in rail identification and development will not only enhance transportation options for North Carolinians but also contribute to the economic growth of the state. With improved rail connectivity, the potential for increased tourism, trade, and job opportunities is significant.

Senator Tillis' efforts in negotiating and passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have paved the way for these grants, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on North Carolina's transportation infrastructure.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2023/12/tillis-announces-3-5-million-in-grants-for-nc-rail-identification-and-development