RALEIGH – The federal government has obligated $550 million for North Carolina’s S-Line rail project, advancing the Raleigh-to-Wake Forest segment and future passenger service toward Richmond.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said the Federal Railroad Administration obligated the money for critical track repairs and upgrades. The federal agency said the completed corridor is expected to cut Raleigh-to-Richmond travel time by up to 90 minutes, support more trips and improve reliability.
The funding also carries a freight consequence. USDOT said the completed line is expected to increase corridor bandwidth, allowing more passenger and freight trips each day.
North Carolina officials announced the obligation at the Durant Road grade-separation project in Raleigh, where bridge construction is in its final stages. The state expects the bridge to be completed in November 2026, with final restoration work concluding in July 2028.
The Durant Road work is part of the Raleigh-to-Wake Forest segment of the larger S-Line program. State officials said that segment is designed to improve safety, mobility and future passenger-rail connections between North Carolina and Virginia.
The News & Observer, in reporting distributed by AOL, said the $550 million is the first half of a previously awarded $1.1 billion federal grant. NCDOT plans to use the money for the first Wake County leg, including corridor acquisition and new tracks that would extend Piedmont service to Wake Forest by 2032.
The remaining $550 million has not been released. The independent report said federal officials expect additional money as project milestones are completed, while USDOT described future funds as dependent on project success.