GoTriangle has new approach to a commuter rail line in North Carolina
Written by RT&S Staff
Officials are looking into light-rail expansion between Alexandria and Quantico.
Progress Rail
GoTriangle is circling back on a new commuter rail line that would serve Durham and Johnston counties in North Carolina. GoTriangle tried to move forward with an 18-mile line last year, but was denied by Duke University when it came to needed right-of-way space.
Now the money is in place for a study on a 34-mile route that would use existing rail owned by N.C. Railroad Company as well as several miles of new track. Durham County commissioners approved over $2 million for a study on the 34-mile route. GoTriangle, which is sponsoring the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail project, is going to approach Wake County for $6 million and Johnston County and N.C. Railroad Company for another $250,000 each. Johnston County, however, is not onboard yet, and will not vote on its participation until April. Even though Durham County approved the funding for the study, Commissioner Ellen Reckhow says it will use the findings of the study to determine if her county will continue to support the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail project.
The project could cost as much as $1.8 billion, and the federal government could pay for half of it. GoTriangle says the new line would produce 20 round trips a day and carry as much as 10,000 daily passengers. The line would run between Durham and Clayton.
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