NCDOT study helps communities plan along future passenger rail line

Mark Rogers, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·3 min read

Aug. 16—Communities along the S-Line rail corridor in central North Carolina, including Sanford, now have plans and strategies to prepare for Transit Oriented Development, thanks to a study released this week by the N. C. Department of Transportation.

According to the NCDOT, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) creates compact development with a mix of housing, office space, retail, civic spaces, and neighborhood amenities near a mobility hub that brings together in one location public transit, ride-sharing services and other modes of travel.

The study explores the development along the S-Line rail corridor, which is a key missing link between Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia. The S-Line will better connect the Southeast to Washington D.C. and places further north.

"The study is the result of a close partnership between NCDOT and the S-Line communities to understand how passenger rail can help each community achieve their goals," Julie White, NCDOT deputy secretary for Multimodal Transportation said. "From more affordable housing to more walkable vibrant town centers, the study provides guidance to the towns for how to make the most of the future passenger rail opportunity."

Through the TOD study, communities along the S-Line would leverage the future benefits of rail to plan for improved mobility and access, increased housing, downtown vibrancy, higher quality of life and economic vitality.

The S-Line TOD study evaluated market conditions, affordable housing considerations, multimodal transportation opportunities, and regulatory conditions in several central North Carolina communities. The study proposes transportation improvements that would meet a vision responsive to each communities' needs.

Two NCDOT divisions — Integrated Mobility and Rail — partnered with seven N.C. communities — Sanford, Apex, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Youngsville, Franklinton, Henderson and Norlina — to complete the study. The process evaluated previous transportation planning efforts, the potential for real estate market demand, and affordable housing considerations. Other planning factors included economic development, multimodal connectivity, environmental sustainability, and quality of life.

Each participating community received a "playbook" with recommendations to continue planning and development efforts. The "playbook" included sites to consider for transportation-focused development, a timeline for executing goals, and projects needed to complete multimodal transportation initiatives.

In June 2022, NCDOT officials came to Sanford to announce 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 the seven communities along the S-Line route.

The next step of the plan involves mobility hub site assessments and design, made possible by a RAISE grant the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded in August 2022. Mobility hubs serve as a focal point for connectivity and development in each community — bringing together rail service with local transportation modes, private development, and other public land uses.

During the 2022 event, Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon noted the project's importance to the city.

"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."

To learn more about the Integrated Mobility Division and Transit-Oriented Development, visit the IMD page at ncdot.gov or follow NCDOT IMD on social media.