Passage of infrastructure bill means N.C. could finish commuter rail project earlier

The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act that was recently passed by Congress will put some speed into the delivery of commuter rail in North Carolina.

The state is expected to receive $9 billion in funding over the next five years, with some of the money marked for a rail project that will serve the Research Triangle. The three universities in the state, North Carolina State, University of North Carolina and Duke University, form the Triangle.

Commuter rail is currently in the feasibility study phase and is expected to be complete in early 2022. Officials will then apply for federal money, which will be followed by two years of design work. If everything goes according to plan commuter rail could be available by 2030.

The plan is to run the commuter line along the North Carolina Railroad Co. corridor and it could be as long as 43 miles, with potential stops at N.C. State University, Cary, Morrisville, Research Triangle, and downtown Durham.

North Carolina Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said the state plans to work with local metropolitan planning organizations to plan projects that could receive funding from the infrastructure bill.

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