RALEIGH--The N.C. Board of Transportation recently awarded more than $2 million in state funds to 11 small freight railroads through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program. The grants will be used to help with track maintenance and improvements. (A complete list of grants recipients and project summaries attached.)

“The investments we make to improve and maintain our rail infrastructure are incentive for industries to locate or expand in our state,” said Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. “It is vital that we continue to invest in our various modes of transportation to serve our citizens and attract and retain employers.”

The money will be used to assist 11 railroads that will directly benefit 21 counties and 97 companies employing more than 4,100 people across the state.

SIAP’s focus is to help smaller railroads – known as short lines – maintain and improve their tracks and better serve industries in primarily rural areas. The short lines transport goods and materials between local industries and major freight railroads relieving some of the heavy truck traffic from the state’s major highways, reducing wear and tear on the roadways, and improving the efficiency of the overall transportation system. Improvements to the short lines also help communities retain and attract industries and improve economic competitiveness in these areas. Twenty-one short lines currently operate about 775 miles or 24 percent of freight railroads in North Carolina.

The freight rail projects were ranked based on public and project benefits. Individual grants range from $20,000 awarded to the Atlantic & Western Railway to repair and upgrade track between Sanford and Cumnock to $499,900 awarded to the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway to repair 29 miles of track between Charlotte and west of Oakboro. 

“We are committed to improving capacity, reliability and safety as we modernize our state’s railroads,” Tippett said. “These public-private partnerships open the door to diverse industry growth and economic development.”

Rail Freight Assistance Program Guide

Railroad*	Project Location (by county)	Grant Amount	Total Project Cost	Industries/ Employees	Project Summary
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway	Mecklenburg, Cabarrus & Stanly	$499,900	$999,800	9 / 526	Repair tracks between Charlotte and west of Oakboro (29.4 miles)
Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad	Scotland & Hoke	$294,400	$588,800	1 / 300	Repair tracks required to preserve rail service between Laurinburg and Raeford  (17.3 miles)
Alexander Railroad	Alexander	$65,000	$130,000	2 / 37	Construct passing track required to serve the Alexander Industrial Park east of Taylorsville
Atlantic & Western Railway	Chatham & Lee	$20,000	$40,000	2 / 165	Repair and upgrade tracks between Sanford and Cumnock (6.4 miles)
Caldwell County Railroad	Catawba & Caldwell	$55,000	$110,000	6 / 438	Repair tracks and bridge between Lenoir and Hickory
Carolina Coastal Railway	Beaufort	$46,250	$92,500	9 / 46	Upgrade mainline tracks and bridges between Pinetown and Belhaven (17 miles)
Carolina Coastal Railway	Wake, Nash, Wilson, Greene, Pitt, Beaufort  & Washington	$250,000	$500,000	31 / 354	Repair tracks and upgrade railroad bridges between Raleigh and Plymouth (138 miles)
Carolina Southern Railway	Columbus	$50,000	$100,000	6 / 415	Repair track between Chadbourn and Fair Bluff (14.5 miles)
Laurinburg & Southern Railroad	Scotland	$115,422	$230,844	4 / 335	Repair track in the Laurinburg area (5 miles)
Nash County Railroad	Nash	$233,720	$467,440	7 / 185	Repair tracks between Rocky Mount and Nashville including upgrading rail and ties at curves
Wilmington Terminal Railroad	New Hanover	$27,308	$54,616	11 / 250	Repair and surface track in Wilmington area
Yadkin Valley Railroad	Forsyth	$384,000	$768,000	9 / 1090	Repairs on YVRR tracks between mileposts K 40 and K 45 (west of Rural Hall)

* Visit ncrailway.net to learn more about North Carolina Shortline Railroads.

 ***NCDOT***

Contact: Joan Bagherpour, 919-733-7245 x261