NC lands nearly $300M for rail safety, track upgrades

North Carolina is set to receive nearly $300 million in federal funding to eliminate railroad crossings, build grade separations, and expand track capacity in Guilford, Durham, and Wake counties, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will provide a 28.53% nonfederal match, nearly $86 million, for the projects.

“This federal investment demonstrates our partners’ confidence in North Carolina’s ability to deliver major rail projects,” said NC Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. “We thank the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, the North Carolina Railroad Company and Norfolk Southern for supporting this important project to modernize and improve safety and travel times along the route between Raleigh and Charlotte.”

According to NCDOT, NC By Train has posted record ridership for four consecutive years. Ridership increased from 463,000 passengers in 2019 to nearly 740,000 in 2025, a 59% increase and the highest annual total in the service’s 35-year history.

Gov. Josh Stein said the investment comes at a critical moment, when demand for passenger rail continues to grow in North Carolina.

“Investments in North Carolina’s rail infrastructure support our state’s growing population and economy,” said Stein. “This federal investment will make passenger rail safer and more reliable, reduce delays, and improve connectivity from Raleigh to Charlotte. As more North Carolinians choose NC By Train, we are building a stronger transportation network that will keep North Carolinians moving safely and efficiently for decades to come.” ​

The 2026-27 North Carolina state budget allocates $45.4 million for the Rail Division. In 2025, the division received $45.3 million in state appropriations and allocated $20.9 million to fund the Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program. 

The money, awarded to NCDOT through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), is part of a $5.3 billion nationwide rail investment announced by US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

“It’s simple: Boondoggles are OUT, and safety is IN,” Duffy said in announcing the nationwide awards. “Instead of wasting billions of dollars on a train to nowhere, we are fixing thousands of grade crossings — saving lives and improving communities across America. We’re also making an unprecedented investment in Amtrak because President Trump and I are committed to making passenger rail in America great again.”

In North Carolina, the funding will close six at-grade railroad crossings and build two grade separations in Guilford County. In Durham County, it will close three crossings and build two grade separations.

The award will also fund double-track segments, trespassing-prevention efforts, and other infrastructure improvements in Guilford, Durham, and Wake counties.

Grade separations use bridges or underpasses to separate vehicle traffic from railroad tracks, eliminating the point where vehicles and trains cross at the same level. The Federal Railroad Administration identifies grade-crossing crashes as the second-leading cause of rail-related deaths nationwide.

FRA Administrator David Fink said the awards would give states more resources to address those safety risks.

“The projects we announced today will help make our nation’s rail network much safer because now state DOT’s across America will have the funds they need to eliminate dangerous grade crossings across the nation,” said Fink. “FRA also collaborated with Amtrak over a two year period to determine how best to distribute these funds so passenger trains can run on time and freight isn’t delayed.”

The North Carolina grant comes through the National Railroad Partnership Program, previously known as the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

The program was expanded under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and can fund projects that improve rail safety, address infrastructure backlogs, improve passenger-rail performance, or expand intercity passenger service. The federal government, however, cannot cover more than 80% of a project’s total cost under the grant program.

The nationwide package also includes $2.05 billion for Amtrak to acquire 43 US-made trainsets and $140 million to overhaul 41 locomotives. DOT said the Carolinian and Piedmont, both serving North Carolina, are among the routes slated to receive new trainsets as Amtrak seeks additional passenger capacity.

The Piedmont route currently operates between Raleigh and Charlotte, with four daily round-trip trains. Stops include Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, and Salisbury. 

The Carolinian route currently operates one daily round trip between Charlotte and New York City. In North Carolina, stops include Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary, Raleigh, Selma-Smithfield, Wilson, and Rocky Mount.

The new federal award builds on other rail work already underway. The North Carolina Railroad Company previously received $105.6 million through a separate federal program for the Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements project.

That funding supports new siding capacity, track replacement, and other improvements intended to reduce conflicts between Amtrak passenger trains and Norfolk Southern freight trains. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2030.

“NC lands nearly $300M for rail safety, track upgrades” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.