ALL ABOARD: Grant will help in planning, design of rail hubs

Aug. 17—The rumbling of trains running through Sanford's downtown put an accent on a press conference Tuesday announcing a grant that will begin the process of bringing passenger rail to the region.

As the freight trains passed by, officials from the N.C. Department of Transportation announced a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to cities and towns along the future S-Line route. The money will go toward planning and preliminary design of mobility hubs in seven communities along the S-Line route, including Sanford, Norlina, Henderson, Franklinton, Youngsville, Wake Forest and Apex.

The grants will help with feasibility and site assessments for all of the communities and National Environmental Policy Act and compliance and preliminary engineering for four of the seven communities. The project will lead to increased access to active transportation options for each of the communities, better connecting rail transit and other services.

"I'm especially excited to be announcing this shared grant in Sanford, a city that exists because of rail," local NCDOT representative Lisa Mathis said. "It was literally founded where two railroad lines meet. This RAISE Grant is a critical cornerstone for advancing regional multimodal transportation in these communities and preparing for passenger rail service from Sanford to Norlina and for strengthening our state's rail connection to Virginia."

Mathis said she was pleased to see the years of effort paying off and the project being recognized by the federal government.

"Winning this grant would not have been possible without the community partners and organizations that demonstrated support," she said.

Joey Hopkins, the NCDOT's chief operating officer, said the announcement of the RAISE grant continued the good news for North Carolina.

"We're grateful that our federal leaders recognized that connectivity is a vital part of transportation infrastructure," he said. "It enhances mobility options, improves social equity, increases the resilience of the transportation network, improves the environment and even spurs economic growth."

After thanking those involved in the process, from state and local leaders to NCDOT teams, Hopkins spoke about the importance of the project.

"Having safe and reliable multimodal transportation options affects the lives of every North Carolinian," he said. "It provides equal access to opportunities and services for all residents. It improves our quality of life and boosts economic development. The S-Line is a significant project, not just for the state, but for the entire Southeast. In North Carolina, this rail service will allow us to better connect rural and urban communities."

Prior to the grant announced on Tuesday, a $58 million grant was announced for the section of rail connecting Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia.

"This announcement is yet another step forward in making this a reality," Hopkins said. "The RAISE grant will fund the planning and preliminary design of mobility hubs in each of these towns, including right here in Sanford. These hubs will provide multimodal connections in each community and will see as an entry point and ensure vibrant and thriving communities for future generations."

Hopkins said mobility hubs are places where residents can hop off the train and catch a bus, walk to a local restaurant or even bike to work.

"We know that a good transportation system is the backbone of a strong economy," he said. "We look forward to each of these communities seeing positive impacts."

Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon spoke of the importance of the project to the city.

"This is a great day for our community, our region and for our state," she said.

She thanked all of the agencies and officials that have worked on the project.

"This is a community defining project," Salmon said. "It will take vision, hard work and support from all of you here to make this a reality. Sanford has not had rail service for over half a century. Twice a day, Amtrak runs through our community without stopping. I used to get asked all the time, 'Why can't Sanford have a stop for regional and statewide travel?' Now, I get asked when our commuter rail service will begin."

The mayor went on to say that the community is excited about the possibilities and the impact of the rail project.

"Today is the first step and the next big step in making the S-Line a part of Sanford and our region's future."

Mayor Pro Tem Byron Buckels echoed Salon's statements and also thanked all involved in the efforts.

"We're so excited about this shared grant and the impact that these mobility hubs will have on our community and how we will reduce vehicle travel by offering a reliable and alternative method of transportation for our citizens," Buckels said. "Also, how it will continue to spur other non-motorized transportation projects for first and last mile connections within the community — this is bikes and also pedestrian facilities."

Buckels said already NCDOT and city have worked on creating bike lanes on several streets in East Sanford and that more projects are coming.

"Somewhere I read that you love where you live when your neighborhood is designed to connect you to what you need," he said. "That's a very positive statement. We're looking forward to designing a hub that brings all of the components to one central location, where different travel options can come together. We also look forward to how this project will benefit our community — including offering opportunities to those who don't have reliable access to transportation."

Buckels said the mobility hubs would not just provide opportunity to many, but all.

"This will create a strong sense of community," he said. "The demand for our multimodal options will only continue to grow with the rapid growth of regions where industry continues to grow, and town limits continue to expand as well. This grant is critical. It is critical in establishing mobility hubs that will become economic drivers for our community."