(RALEIGH) – The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division to spend $43.4 million for  improvements to better accommodate passengers at  nine train stations along the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte. 

The funding will come from the $545 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) awarded to the state from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration earlier this year.

The following improvements will be made:

 

Cary:

•       expansion to accommodate full-service Amtrak service including ticketing and baggage handling

•       the north boarding platform will be lengthened

•       parking will be added

•       a video security system will be installed

•       a passenger information display system (PIDS) will be added

 

Burlington:

•       a backup electric generator will be installed

•       the length of the platform will be doubled to 400 feet

•       a video security system will be installed

•       a passenger information display system will be added

 

Charlotte:

•       a new train maintenance facility will be constructed at Summit Avenue in proximity to the new train station proposed at Trade Street

•       a passenger information display system will be added at the existing station

 

Kannapolis:

•       a new passenger canopy will be installed at the existing  uncovered platform

•       a video security system will be installed

•       a passenger information display system will be added

 

High Point:

•       additional parking and landscaping will be added

•       the existing video security system will be enhanced

•       a passenger information display system will be added

 

Capital Yard Maintenance Facility in Raleigh:

•       will be improved so that additional train maintenance may be performed more quickly, safely and efficiently

•       the existing video security system will be enhanced

 

Salisbury:

•       a video security system will be installed

•       a passenger information display system will be installed

 

Raleigh:

•       a video security system will be installed

•       a passenger information display system will be installed

 

Durham:

•       a passenger information display system will be installed

 

Greensboro:

•       a passenger information display system will be installed

 

 

The Passenger Information Display Systems (PIDS) being installed at all stations between Raleigh and Charlotte are mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and provide visual and audible messaging for impaired passengers.

 

Projects in Cary, Burlington, High Point and at the Capital Rail Yard will begin construction by early 2011, and will be completed in 2012.  The other projects will begin design by early 2011.  Those projects must be completed and in service by February 2014.

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