NCDOT announces progress along 'S-Line' passenger rail project connecting Raleigh to Richmond

North Carolina’s S-Line rail project is getting an additional $65 million in federal funding to accelerate key construction and safety work along the Raleigh-to-Richmond corridor.

Crews are already building the first major phase of the S-Line on Durant Road in Raleigh. The "R2R grade separation project" will separate rail and roadway traffic, easing congestion for thousands of daily drivers.

State and federal transportation officials gathered at the Durant Road work site Wednesday to discuss the project.

Drew Feeley, the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said a lot of progress has been made since the FRA's last visit to the work site in February.

The FRA previously contributed $57 million to the project. The FRA announced Wednesday it would give another $65 million for the purchase of the S-Line from CSX Transportation.

According to Feeley, 22,000 vehicles, including school buses, and four freight trains pass the Durant Road rail site daily. Construction will take passenger vehicles above the rail line.

"When this project is done, it's going to be a tremendous improvement in safety for the freight railroads and for the drivers and pedestrians," Feeley said.

Officials said the upgrades will improve safety and set the stage for faster, more reliable passenger rail service between North Carolina and Virginia.

Phase 1 of the Durant Road project is anticipated to be complete by October, and the S-Line will open by the end of 2027.

More information about the S-Line project is available online.