The project will perform surveys and prepare preliminary engineering (to approximately 30% design) for the raleigh to richmond (R2R) CORRIDOR program improvements on the CSX transportation (CSXT)…

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division $103.5 million on February 1, 2026, under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Project Grant program (CFDA 20.326).

The award funds surveys and preliminary engineering at approximately 30 percent design completion for the Raleigh to Richmond corridor program improvements on the CSX Transportation S-Line between Raleigh, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. The project also includes construction of a grade separation at Rogers Road on the S-Line in Wake Forest, North Carolina. These improvements advance the next phase of corridor development to eventually establish new intercity passenger rail service on a more direct Raleigh-Richmond route and improve travel times on Amtrak long-distance service through North Carolina.

The period of performance runs through January 31, 2030. Place of performance is within the United States.

The project will perform surveys and prepare preliminary engineering (to approximately 30% design) for the raleigh to richmond (R2R) CORRIDOR program improvements on the CSX transportation (CSXT) S-line between raleigh, north carolina and richmond, virginia (CORRIDOR). The project also includes construction of a grade separation of rogers road on the CSXT S-line in wake forest, north carolina. The project will advance the next phase of the R2R CORRIDOR development, which will eventually result in new intercity passenger rail service on a more direct route between raleigh and richmond and improve travel times on national railroad passenger corporation (AMTRAK) long distance service through north carolina.