U.S. Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) | senate.gov
U.S. Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) | senate.gov
U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has announced a $1 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a new passenger rail route between Raleigh, NC, and Richmond, VA. Tillis, in collaboration with local lawmakers and officials, anticipates that the new rail route will stimulate economic development and enhance connectivity in the Southeast Corridor.
In a press release issued by his office, Tillis said: "This $1 billion grant for North Carolina to make progress on the Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line is a big win for economic development in the region. I’m proud this investment was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped negotiate, write, and pass into law."
The same press release elaborated on the project's objectives to improve system efficiency and service reliability by establishing a robust and reliable passenger rail route. This initiative is expected to strengthen resilience in freight and supply chain networks across the Southeast region. In support of this endeavor, both the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Amtrak will contribute a 20% non-Federal match. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) plans an initial allocation of FY22-23 funds up to $479,416,000 under the Phased Funding Agreement, supplemented by future commitments from Advance Appropriations in FY24-26.
According to information available on Tillis' official website, the primary focus of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is funding essential infrastructure such as roads, broadband services, water systems, and public transit without imposing additional taxes. As per current provisions, North Carolina has allocations including $7.2 billion for road repair, $1.5 billion for broadband expansion to reach over 400,000 residents, $911 million for public transit enhancement, $458 million for airports improvements , $457 million for bridge repair work , $440 million towards clean water initiatives , and $144.2 million for coastal resiliency to safeguard against natural disasters like hurricanes.
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