DOT, North Carolina sign HrSR pact

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the signing of “a cooperative agreement between USDOT and North Carolina DOT that makes $461 million available for the State of North Carolina to begin work on projects that will reduce travel times and increase reliability for rail passengers, create jobs, and spur economic growth.”

“These projects can get under way thanks to the agreement signed betweenthe State of North Carolina, Norfolk Southern Railway, North Carolina Railroad, and Amtrak,” said LaHood (pictured at left). "With this agreement in place, North Carolinians will soon be working on 24 rail projects in 11 counties, including the construction of double tracks between Charlotte and Greensboro and 12 new bridges that will eliminate 30 highway-rail crossings."

Lahood said this is the sixth agreement between states and a host freight railroad for a major higher-speed rail (HrSR) corridor funded under the Recovery Act, “and it ensures that these grants will improve passenger rail service in North Carolina, while preserving the world class freight rail system we have today.”