NCDOT receives $550m in funding for Southeast high performance rail — the culmination of a 34 year overnight success
On October 20, 1992 — 34 years ago this week — USDOT designated the Southeast high speed rail corridor from Washington to Richmond to Raleigh to Charlotte.
Today, Thursday, October 15, USDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration formally obligated more than $500 million in passenger rail infrastructure funding for construct the southernmost portion of the Raleigh to Richmond proposed S-Line high performance rail corridor. The initial segment is located in central and northern Wake County, and will connect downtown Raleigh / Raleigh Union Station to Wake Forest.
This project is indeed a 34 year overnight success. It is the culmination of efforts by multiple generations of public servants and patriots past and present who have been willing to devote their professional lives for a transformational project that some of them might not see come to fruition during their career.
RTA has supported this effort for decades. In fact, one of our past RTA focus area chairs, Randy Lickey with Williams Mullen, who served as our RTA high speed rail chair, was one of the first non-legislative appointees to the Virginia-North Carolina High Speed Rail compact in 2013; some of his legislative contemporaries from North Carolina can be found here (pg 3, pg 7).
RTA chair Sarah Gaskill with FUJIFILM Biotechnologies noted that “The vision of connecting the capitals of Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington via high performance rail moved closer today. We are grateful for NCDOT and the bipartisan support of elected officials at all levels of government for this project.”
RTA chair-elect John Boylan with Lincoln Property Group stated that “The announcement of the release of funds for this project is a testament to the generations of professionals at NCDOT who have worked tirelessly to make this project at a reality. It will transform how we get around the region and state.”
Today’s announcement is wonderful news, and the regional business community expresses appreciation for bipartisan congressional support this project has received, as well as through various administrations in Washington. Kudos to NCDOT and congratulations to the current and future residents and visitors to North Carolina and Virginia who will enjoy this service.
Let’s get moving,
Joe
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director
RTA is the voice of the regional business community on transportation
