cowboy_wilhelm

I hadn't seen any recent images of construction at Union Station, so I took my own.

This is a wayside PTC pole on the NS H-Line near Morrisville, and another near Harrisburg on the main line. Judging by the perpendicular facing signals and amount of construction in this area, I would assume it's not operational yet.

The Garden Parkway is officially dead.

The projects being considered for the 2018-2027 STIP includes purchasing "5 new bi-level passenger cars for future Piedmont service between Raleigh and Charlotte" (R150274). Have bi-level cars been mentioned before? I don't recall reading anything about them before.

These are just the prioritization score results for projects submitted for inclusion in the next STIP. Probably less than half will actually make it into the draft STIP in January 2017, although most of those listed above probably have a good shot. Maybe the Shelby bypass will be finished in less than 15 years, but I'm not holding my breath. Yeah... I can't believe this project got pushed through. If you're referring to I-85 construction, it doesn't look like NCDOT has anything between Concord Mills and China Grove, at least publicly available on their website. I suspect ITS is part of the projects and there will be traffic cameras in the future.

I have a feeling that sooner or later Norfolk Southern is going to sell the S-Line (Knoxville to Salisbury) to a short line operator like they did their branch lines out of Asheville two years ago. Who knows what that will mean for future passenger rail service.

Yeah, they've dropped the H and S.

My mistake! I thought that the three lanes that split from I-40 continued on to Durham.

Eight lanes for that section are funded in the 2016-2025 STIP for the 2024 timeframe. Projects I-5719 (to U.S. 321) and I-5895 (to U.S. 74).

A contract has been awarded to widen the last remaining four lane segment of I-85 in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Once completed in December 2018 (maybe), I-85 will have six to eight lanes from U.S. 74 in Kings Mountain to just north of Durham north of the I-40 split near Hillsborough.

Track capacity and platforms are what I had in mind. I think full build-out of the station was calling for three platforms serving five tracks (one on the S-Line and another commuter platform on the NCRR; correct me if I'm wrong), with little room for expansion. IF a full commuter rail network is built utilizing the NCRR, CSX to Apex and Wake Forest, and potentially NS to Fuquay and maybe even Zebulon, you're going to have a lot of trains coming in from all directions at peak times, plus Amtrak. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it doesn't leave much room for delays.

I believe "light rail" is more of a descriptive term and doesn't have a strict definition, even though the differences between light rail, commuter rail and inter-city rail are usually pretty clear. Hypothetically, the Durham-Chapel Hill light rail project could be called a streetcar or tram instead and would not fall under the $500,000 cap, since it specifically states "light rail" in the legislation. However, I don't think it would be worth the risk since that could lead to legislation capping funding for all rail transit projects.

I didn't find out about them until fairly recently. This link should take you to the NCDOT rail resources documents page, filtered for reports. It looks like they have monthly rail reports dating back to November 2013.

Looking at all the rail lines going into Raleigh and the communities they run through, the region is set up quite well for a future hub and spoke network of commuter rail. I just hope the new station will be able to accommodate that many trains. According to the NCDOT December Rail Report, construction should start soon.

I haven't seen this posted here, but among the projects being added or accelerated to the 2016-2025 STIP due to additional revenue is the widening of I-85 from U.S. 74 (Exit 10) to U.S. 321 (Exit 17). This project (I-5895) was previously not included in the STIP, and is scheduled for right-of-way and construction in FY 2022 and 2024, respectively. This is around the same schedule as the I-85 widening (I-5719) from U.S. 321 to N.C. 273 (Exit 27). This will result in a reduction of southbound travel lanes from four to two at U.S. 74. I haven't seen anything mentioned about widening I-85 to six lanes from the state line to U.S. 74, so this may turn into a bit of a bottleneck.

Can someone refresh my memory on the specifics of the ADM interlocking grade separation? Didn't NS say they weren't going to allow any additional passenger trains through without the grade separation, making Gateway impossible before the grade separation was completed? You're looking at at least six upon opening (Carolinian and two Piedmonts), and the fourth and fifth frequencies of the Piedmont are anticipated between 2017 and 2019. Also, has the recent closure of the CSX terminal in Erwin, TN and subsequent downgrade of the Clinchfield route reduced the number of CSX trains through the interlocking? Pretty sure someone on here is employed with CSXT.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Raleigh to Richmond portion of the Southeast Corridor has been signed by the FRA, the State of North Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Note that it is no longer being referred to as the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, just the Southeast Corridor. They're also mentioning "potential private partners." NCDOT News Release News & Observer Article Highlights from the recently approved North Carolina Comprehensive State Rail Plan as outlined in this News & Observer article: Proposed Asheville and Wilmington service between 2020 and 2035, with Thruway Bus Service beginning in 2016 and 2018, respectively.Fourth Piedmont service in 2017 or 2018, fifth in 2019 (double-tracking/siding projects are prerequisites and won't be completed until 2017).New stations planned or proposed in Harrisburg, Hillsborough, and Lexington.Raleigh Union station completion in 2017. Charlotte Gateway Station after 2020.Incremental approach to implementing the Southeast Corridor. I.e., acquire and restore the S-Line, keep grade crossings and run at slower speeds because $4 billion ain't gonna happen.

Wow, I'm surprised there's that little difference. It's ~2 miles going northbound due to the ramps. I'll have to try it out next time I go through there.

Google Maps is already showing the completed outer belt.

Wi-Fi service on the Piedmont begins May 25th.

I believe the torrential rains during the late spring/early summer of 2013 had a significant impact on the schedule. If I recall correctly, the I-85 widening to Concord got delayed around that time and never caught up.

Latest estimate (1/31/2015) on NCDOT Construction Progress Report is 5/22/2015 for 100% completion. They will probably announce an opening date (or delay) soon. EDIT: Just saw the revised completion date of 7/20/2015. It's possible it will be open to traffic before then, with any remaining signage, final lane markings, etc. taking place at night.

Yeah, that's the general idea of a bypass.

There are some coal spurs with the rails still intact at the old R.J. Reynolds plant in downtown Winston-Salem. http://goo.gl/maps/NGAOO http://goo.gl/maps/VoL1b

NCDOT has also released the Draft 2016-2025 STIP, as well as a handy Draft 2016-2025 STIP Project Viewer. I recommend the PDFs for dates, as it appears some construction dates are missing in the project viewer. NCDOT Strategic Transportation Investments I noticed the half-funded Shelby bypass. I am assuming this is an example where NCDOT is pursuing road bonds for funding, as mentioned in September, to finish the project. Or maybe it really will take twenty years to build.