Here's the latest on NCDOT's plans to develop a Fayetteville to Raleigh passenger rail line

Lizmary Evans, Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read

A federal grant secured by the state Department of Transportation will be used to develop seven passenger rail corridors to connect smaller municipalities in North Carolina to larger cities — including a line from Fayetteville to Raleigh.

The NCDOT was awarded $500,000 for each corridor totaling $3.5 million in the Corridor Identification and Development program in December, with the Fayetteville to Raleigh line eventually connecting to Washington, D.C., Jason Myers, rail program manager at the NCDOT, said Friday.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation submitted 12 corridors in their application, seven corridors were approved, with one being a new passenger line from Fayetteville to Raleigh.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation submitted 12 corridors in their application, seven corridors were approved, with one being a new passenger line from Fayetteville to Raleigh.

The seven new NC corridors

In addition to the Fayetteville to Raleigh line, the other corridors are Charlotte to Washington, D.C.; Salisbury to Asheville; Raleigh to Wilmington; Charlotte to Kings Mountain; Raleigh to Winston-Salem; and Charlotte to Atlanta.

Five other corridors were submitted but were not funded: Raleigh to Greenville; Raleigh to Hamlet; Raleigh to Morehead City; Winston-Salem to Charlotte and Raleigh to Weldon. Myers said the NCDOT plans to resubmit applications for these corridors in 2025.

With a focus on improving intercity transportation, NCDOT is developing a plan that includes total construction cost estimates, defining the scope and schedule, and creating a plan for step two, which is project development, Myers said.

“The whole goal for the Corridor ID program is to be shovel-ready so you can submit a grant to then build,” he said.

This infographic illustrates the different phases in the Corridor Identification and Development process. Currently, NCDOT is in the project planning phase.
This infographic illustrates the different phases in the Corridor Identification and Development process. Currently, NCDOT is in the project planning phase.

What is the Corridor ID program?

The Corridor ID program funds long-term projects that guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country, creating a pipeline of rail projects ready for implementation, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. The goal is to increase average speeds, improve train frequencies and enhance travel reliability.

Myers said that being able to move freely from place to place is a fundamental aspect of freedom and this new way to travel locally will enhance those freedoms.

"In the U.S., since the 1950s, we have sometimes consciously or sometimes without realizing, we have eroded our freedom," he said. "We lost most of what we had, but I'm happy to be a part of a new system that serves today's needs."

The NCDOT rail division is finalizing a Southeastern North Carolina Passenger Rail Feasibility study that will analyze costs and commuting patterns for these new corridors. The Western North Carolina feasibility study was completed in December 2023.

“We don’t know for certain, but we expect to learn more about the work needed to achieve travel time goals that are competitive with cars,” Myers said.

Fayetteville train station on Hay Street.
Fayetteville train station on Hay Street.

What happens now?

Myers said that because the current rail lines in Fayetteville are mainly used for freight and three Amtrak passenger lines, a new passenger rail line will have to be laid downtown.

Hank Graham, executive director of the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, emphasized that for the NCDOT passenger rail line to become a reality, NCDOT and FAMPO will collaborate on completing the feasibility study to assess the practicality of these new corridors. With the results of the study, FAMPO plans to apply for federal grants for another commuter rail line to Raleigh.

"From Fayetteville to Raleigh, we would not be sharing that rail line with Amtrak, we would have to build a new line that would go to Raleigh," Graham said on Friday. "We can't do anything with federal dollars until these studies have been put in place."

FAMPO will use the results to determine the optimal location for a commuter-train transit line between Fayetteville and Raleigh, whether that be on the eastern or western side of the city. This is a separate rail project from NCDOT's passenger rail line, as NCDOT's line will feature food service and boarding options, while a commuter train is meant for shorter distances.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin believes the new rail lines from Fayetteville to Raleigh will provide significant options for those living in Fayetteville and working in the Triangle.

“I think it’s a tremendous growth opportunity to be able to leave downtown Fayetteville and get to Raleigh with a commercial transit like that within an hour,” Colvin told the Observer on Monday. “It will increase commerce that takes place between here and there, which can be an opportunity for Raleigh companies to relocate knowing their workforce can get to work.”

Mayor Colvin highlighted the benefits of two rail projects for the area, saying he thinks the rail lines will have the added benefit of making Fayetteville more attractive to companies looking to expand.

“We certainly want to be a major stop here with the military and airport, but the FAMPO line is critical," Colvin said. "It adds to our workforce and allows the city to leverage its success."

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What's the latest on a rail line from Fayetteville, NC to Raleigh, NC?