Comprehensive State Rail Plan

This plan identifies a program of strategic freight, passenger, and rail safety investments that support safe and reliable rail transportation and spur economic development statewide. 

Developed in compliance with the U.S. Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Comprehensive State Rail Plan helps identify needs and guides investments in North Carolina’s freight and passenger rail network for the next 30 years.

NCDOT is nearing completion of an updated North Carolina Comprehensive State Rail Plan that will clearly communicate the vision for North Carolina’s rail system while supporting the state’s goals and policies.  The Comprehensive State Rail Plan was last approved and adopted in 2015.

We need your feedback! Tell us what you think about the proposed new Comprehensive State Rail Plan and the projects listed in the plan. The draft document and a map of these projects are shown on the following pages.

 

Development Timeline​

​Milestone​Dates
Public Comment Period

Through December 10, 2025

State Rail Plan Adoption by NCDOT

January 2026

Federal Railroad Administration Acceptance of the State Rail Plan

TBD

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Comprehensive State Rail Plan provides a current inventory of the North Carolina rail system, identifies key objectives for advancing passenger and freight rail service, and presents a list of projects that NCDOT can implement to meet these objectives.

  • The plan also identifies current funding mechanisms and programs.
  • NCDOT will use this Rail Plan to identify potential grant opportunities and further steps that can be taken to grow the state’s rail system.

The Comprehensive State Rail Plan is organized into six chapters, following federal guidance for state rail plans. These chapters:

  • detail the condition of the existing rail system,
  • explain the priorities for improving passenger and freight rail, and
  • identify the specific projects and studies that will enable NCDOT to meet these priorities.
  • The Comprehensive State Rail Plan also includes an Appendix that contains supporting data and analyses used to develop each chapter.

The Comprehensive State Rail Plan includes a Rail Service and Investment Program (RSIP), which is a list of projects intended to improve and expand rail services statewide.  These Projects include: 

  • rail crossing improvements,
  • construction of grade separations,
  • implementation of new passenger service or expansion of existing passenger service,
  • construction of new access for freight users,
  • freight and shared capacity improvements, and
  • new or replacement infrastructure for short line railroads

The projects listed in the plan are funded from a variety of sources. Primary sources of capital funding include:

  • North Carolina Highway Fund (prioritized through the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) process),

  • Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement (FRRCSI) Fund,

  • Allocations made by the state’s Class 1 and short line railroad partners, and

  • Federal competitive, discretionary grants.

    • Grant programs include the Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail and

    • the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Program.

    • Section 130 funds from the Federal Highway Administration are also used to improve highway-rail crossings. 

    • The Corridor Identification and Development Program provides Federal funds to prepare service development plans for new intercity passenger rail services to prepare them for future Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail capital grants. 

After the public review period ends, NCDOT will update the plan to account for any feedback received and submit the updated plan to the Federal Railroad Administration for final acceptance.