Southeast high speed rail continues
North Carolina has been working with Virginia, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and other partners on a future high speed passenger rail corridor between Raleigh and Richmond. Va. for over 30 years. This ongoing collaboration, which has included the regional business community as both a supporter of the project and a former member of the Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact Commission, has resulted in several prior federal grants, including a construction award of over $1 billion in 2024.
Even if you never plan to use the future high speed rail corridor, you and your associates will benefit from the series of railroad-highway grade separations NCDOT is constructing between Raleigh and Wake Forest. The first one, which will carry Durant Road over the railroad in northeast Raleigh, began construction in 2024. A second one, which will carry New Hope Road over the railroad, is the topic of today’s blog.
Construction of the New Hope crossing started last month and is scheduled for completion in three years, with a projected timing to open the Raleigh to Wake Forest segment of six years. FRA Deputy Administrator Drew Feeley was in Raleigh a little over a week ago to observe the beginning of the New Hope Road bridge construction, and to highlight the release of funds for engineering for additional segments of the corridor.
“So the goal of this project is to separate this roadway from the railroad to make sure that we don’t introduce new hazards,” said NCDOT Rail Division director Jason Orthner.
North Carolina Department of Transportation secretary Daniel Johnson said “This system will provide quick and reliable travel options for those who travel between a growing area like Wake Forest and the growing population of Raleigh.”
Kudos to NCDOT for continuing to support this intercity passenger rail improvement, that will serve as the extension of our Charlotte to Raleigh piedmont trunk intercity passenger and freight corridor.
Let’s get moving,
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA executive director
RTA is the voice of the regional business community on transportation
