North Carolina State Rail Plan Update

Defining Vision for Rail Infrastructure Across North Carolina

Under the provisions of PRIIA and the FAST Act, every state must develop and submit to the USDOT a comprehensive statewide rail plan to make rail projects eligible for certain federal funding.

North Carolina’s previous rail plan, which was accepted by the USDOT in 2015, is currently being revised. Photo courtesy of NC Ports.

In the past few years, there have been significant changes among the state’s railroad network, with new and revised projects across the region. Photo courtesy of NC Ports.

Our team is incorporating lessons learned from development of the current rail plan in 2015, including the importance of strong stakeholder engagement.

Client: North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division
Owner: North Carolina Department of Transportation
Location: NC
Services: Engineering, Planning, Consulting, and Advisory

Markets: Transportation
Completed: 2021
Region: Southeast

In compliance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2014 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA), we are working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to update the North Carolina State Rail Plan, which was last updated in 2015. NCDOT is undertaking this comprehensive effort to determine the state’s passenger and freight rail needs over the next two decades. We are identifying projects that efficiently move people and goods while enhancing the state’s economy. In developing the Statewide Rail Plan, we are incorporating input from the railroads, industry, agriculture, government, and the public.

The updated plan will define the state’s
vision for rail infrastructure and performance for the next 25 to 30 years. The primary goals of the plan include setting a policy for freight and passenger rail transportation, establishing strategies to enhance rail service in the public interest, prioritizing
state and federal investments in a statewide rail system, and seeking to realize economic opportunities by supporting existing and potential rail-served industries and businesses.

Read this blog to learn more about the statewide rail plan.

25 to 30

years of defined planning in rail infrastructure and performance