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Here are North Carolina's applications, just posted http://bytrain.org/fra/default.html have at it. I've pulled out some interesting text and sublinks. I'll let folks crowdsource a lot of other stuff out of this: Applications NC3.1bSEHSR-Raleigh to Richmond Corridor (links to supporting materials) http://bytrain.org/fra/nc3/nc3_1b_app.pdf application itself. NC5.1aSEHSR-Stations Application details NCDOT has made a concerted effort to make improvements to its passenger railroad stations across the state. http://www.bytrain.org/istation. The project includes parking increases, platform extensions, and passenger waiting area improvements as well as the addition of backup generators and security cameras to several passenger rail stations. * The majority of physical upgrades will occur at three stations - Cary, Burlington, and High Point. All three stations are located in NC along trackage and right-of-way owned by the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR). The stations are located at the following addresses and mileposts: High Point - 100 W. High Ave., High Point, NC 27260, NCRR MP 299.4 Burlington - 101 North Main Street, Burlington, NC 27217, NCRR H-Line MP 21.4 Cary - 211 N. Academy St. Cary, NC 27511, NCRR H-Line MP 73.5 A total of 16 stations in NC will be receiving other upgrades that include backup generators and security cameras. * These station improvements are located at all stations throughout NC and would benefit all rail service in the state, including the Piedmont, Carolinian, Crescent, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Palmetto. The stations receiving the physical upgrades; High Point, Burlington, and Cary; are on the Piedmont Corridor, which is part of the federally designated SEHSR corridor that will connect the NEC at Washington, DC to Atlanta and Florida. * The High Point, Burlington, and Cary Stations as well as the other stations proposed for upgrades are currently station stops for the existing Amtrak service in NC provided by the Piedmont, Carolinian, Crescent, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Palmetto. The extensive planning completed to date for the SEHSR has been based on maintaining service to all existing stations targeted locations. As such, upgrades to these stations function to support the proposed high speed service in the SEHSR corridor. * The specific improvement proposed as part of this project are as follows: (1) At the High Point station the number of customer parking spaces will be increased from 9 to 29, allowing more customers to find convenient parking. (2) At the Burlington station, the station platform will be extended by 200 linear feet. This will allow the loading of all train cars at the same time. Currently, only a portion of the train cars are loaded, then the train is repositioned, and then the remaining cars are loaded. (3) At the Cary station, several improvements are proposed. First, the number of parking spaces will be increased from 146 to 167 to accommodate additional customers. Second, the passenger waiting room will be increased in ize from 500 square feet to 2,400 square feet. Third, a total of five passenger shelters will be added to the train platforms or protection from the weather. Finally, a 200 foot extension will be added to one of the platforms to allow easier oarding. (4) Six emergency generators will be installed, one at each of the following stations: Rocky Mount, Selma, Burlington, Fayetteville, Southern Pines and Wilson (5) Security cameras, digital video recorders, and a dedicated network will be installed at 14 stations: Rocky Mount, Wilson, Selma, Raleigh, Capital Yard, Cary, Burlington, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, Gastonia, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, and Hamlet. Preliminary Engineering: Burlington Platform Extension Project Location Map Project Map Platform Extension Plan Platform Addition Details Electrical Systems Diagram Lighting Control Diagram [*]Cary Depot Upfit Project Location Map Project Map Civil Engineering Plans Architectural Floor Plan Architectural Elevation-North Architectural Elevation-South, East, West [*]High Point Station Parking Expansion Project Location Map Project Map Project Cover Sheet Plans Cross Section Retaining Walls Sheet 1.1 Retaining Walls Sheet 1.2 Retaining Wall Details Sheet 2.1 Standard Details Map SEHSR-Congestion Mitigation NC6.1a Application actual application This project involves four discrete sub-projects all within the state of North Carolina. The project includes the design and construction of universal crossovers at the following locations: * North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) Milepost H 71-79 between Fetner and Boylan (near Powell Dr.) on CSXT's "S-line" MP 160.5-164.8 * At CSXT "A-Line" Milepost A 86.4 * At CSXT "A-Line" Milepost A 101.0 * At CSXT "A-Line" Milepost A 115.9. The FRA's Technical Monograph: Transportation Planning for the Richmond - Charlotte Railroad Corridor, January 2004, specifically referred to the Powell Drive crossover saying, "there is no interlocking between Fetner and Boylan - a distinct handicap in this area of special complexity." (www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/RRDev/rich_vol_1.pdf) (page 6-22). Like all the crossover projects, the Powell project will allow for meets and passing of trains which will improve operational efficiency, enhance reliability and reduce travel time. Powell, in particular, would directly affect three Amtrak routes on the CSXT "S-Line" including: the Carolinian, Piedmont, and the Silver Star. Piedmont service on the NCRR between Cary and Raleigh will also benefit. (A map of the proposed projects is attached to this application.) CSXT also provides rail freight service on this portion of its "S-line" corridor. The three CSXT "A-Line" crossovers will also improve operational efficiency, enhance reliability, and reduce travel time on CSXT's north-south main line. Passenger trains directly affected include the Carolinian, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Palmetto, and Auto Train. NC7.3Western and Southeasterrn Intercity Passenger Service Expansions Application actual application Map of Planned Investments: NC7.3 Project Map NC8.1aSEHSR-Other Speed and Safety Improvements Preliminary Engineering: Klumac Road PE-Roadway Design Klumac Road PE-Roadway Profile Klumac Road PE-Detour Roadway Design Klumac Road PE-Detour Profile NC12.1aSEHSR-Current Needs and 3rd Frequency Application details here Current Needs - construct Haw River Siding (TIP P-3414O) - mid-life rebuild of 2 locomotives (TIP: P-2918) - improve tracks at Capital Yard (TIP: P-2918) 3rd Frequency - rehabilitate 3 passenger rail cars (TIP: P-2918) - purchase/mid-life rebuilds 3 used locomotives (TIP: P-2918)

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/crosstown/nc...ain-stimulation .....In preliminary filings in July, North Carolina said it eventually would apply for about $4 billion in rail grants to help build faster and more frequent rail service between Charlotte and Washington, D.C. Today the state asked for a small share of that total in six separate applications for a combined $75.9 million. The grants include money to upgrade the Cary, Burlington and High Point rail stations, to rehabilitate locomotives and passenger cars, to build a rail passing siding in the Haw River area, to finish engineering work for a proposed line between Raleigh and Richmond, and to conduct environmental studies for proposed rail service extensions in western and southeastern North Carolina ..... The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications today only for projects that are ready to start. Other projects that can be ready to go by the end of 2009 will be included in a much larger batch of grant applications to be filed by Oct. 2, Simmons said.

Passed today on concurrence with Senate amendment, vote was around 73-40, this was the final legislative vote on the bill. I may be off by a bit on the vote totals. The bill will be signed by the Speaker Tuesday morning and the Lt. Governor Tuesday afternoon, and delivered to the Governor either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. She will have until September 10 to act on the 100+ bills that will be on her desk by Wednesday morning when the last ones get there after session adjournment.

\ The vote Monday is up or down on the Senate amendment. If it is approved, the bill will go to the Governor Tuesday, who will have 30 days to act. The bill is 11th out of 44 on the calendar (HB148) http://www.ncleg.net/Calendars/CurrentCale...useCalendar.pdf

Concurrence vote in the House will be Monday night along with concurrence on a lot of other bills in similar situations. The House receuved the Senate amendment tonight and put it on Monday's calendar for a vote. The session ends Tuesday.

The bill got preliminary Senate approval this afternoon 37-9. Final Senate vote Thursday,

starting August 24, Chapel Hill Transit will offer express bus service Pittsboro-Farrington-Chapel Hill The new Pittsboro express route will mark the first time Chapel Hill Transit has provided service outside its borders, which includes the Town of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC. In order to operate outside these borders, Chapel Hill Transit partnered with Pittsboro and Chatham County, which will cover half of the funding for the project. ..... Travel time for the Pittsboro route will be about 40 minutes. There will be three morning trips and three afternoon trips. Primary stops on the route include the Chatham County Courthouse, Lowe

nothing at all?

I've looked at a lot of the underlying land titles for much of the ROW from Charlotte to Morehead City, some was acquired by deed, some by easement, and some by charter rights. I think DOT is in favor of closing corridors, one would assume that since the project list http://bytrain.org/arra/ncdot_arra_rail_pr...july_8_2009.pdf specifically includes closing Craighead that DOT will go ahead and do that. It's in Item 12. Item 13 specifices 8 more grade crossing closures without specifying where. Item 12 is also Sugar Creek grade separation. Item 14 grade separates 36th Street. Item 15 closes two unnamed Charlotte grade crossings. Item 78 grade separates Back Creek Church Road out in the UC area. This is going to be a sealed corridor folks.

Orulz is correct. The North line to Davidson has to cross the CSX -- this is part of the CRISP project that trenches the CSX under both the CATS North line and the NS Mainline. These costs if borne by HSR (and they are absolutely necessary for HSR) relieve the North line project from paying much of those costs. The HSR project is not being done in order to have the North line built, but they are costs that impact both projects that can be 100% funded with HSR. HSR will also deal with SOME of the North east corridor costs through the Tryon Yard out to Sugar Creek. As Monsoon correctly points out here, those relieved costs are a drop in the bucket for the NE line. But, again, HSR if funded will relieve a substantial part of the North line costs for Gateway station, and for bridges and structures as far as the current CSX interchange

I had only seen the first four items yesterday: Secretary Conti's Cover Letter Appendix NCDOT ARRA Project List - July 8, 2009 It's Time the itemizations below are in enormous detail: NC1: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Piedmont Corridor Service 4th Frequency NC2: Southeast High Speed Rail(SEHSR): Piedmont Corridor Service 5th Frequency NC3: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Raleigh to Richmond Corridor Initiate SEHSR service NC4: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Planned Frequencies To Buildout NC5: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Station Improvements NC6: Congestion Mitigation NC7: Western and Southeastern NC Intercity Passenger Service Expansions Providing Feeder Service to SEHSR NC8: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): System-wide Speed and Safety Improvements NC9: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Haw River Passing Siding and Curve Realignment (a component of 4th Frequency Program) NC10: Southeast High Speed Rail(SEHSR): Sugar Creek Grade Separation (A Component of Piedmont Corridor Service 5th Frequency and CRISP) NC11: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR): Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC

The projects below subsume some of the costs that would have to be incurred for the Charlotte CATS North line and Northeast line as follows: CRISP: Grade separate CSXT/NS/CATS in Charlotte, move CSX Tryon Yard to Pinoca $113m (covers costs of North line interchange with CSX by trenching CSX under) CRISP: northend improvements; grade separate 36th St, Eastway overpass, acquire ROW, eliminates 3 at grade crossings $73m (covers some of North East corridor costs) Charlotte Gateway Station construction: $34m (covers some of North corridor costs) Charlotte Gateway station track and bridge improvements 4th, 5th, 6th, Trade, Morehead $33m (covers some of North corridor costs) Sugar Creek grade separation (Northeast corridor) is also in the preapp.

There are $93.3b in preapplications for the $8 b in federal funds for High Speed Rail. California has applied for $22.3b of the $8b. Anything not on the preapp list can not be funded. Final applications are due August 24, then the feds begin winnowing down to the $8b (which actually may be $9b as Obama has $1b in his 2009-10 budget request)

The list is supposed to be up soon at http://www.bytrain.org I have a copy of it -- it is actually $4.026b. There is $900m of projects that are through EIS and preliminary engineering. North Carolina's application is carrying the whole costs of the 168 miles from Raleigh to Richmond, that alone is $2.548b. Virginia is carrying the Richmond-DC improvements in its application. The remaining $1.5b+ in North Carolina's application is largely RGH-CLT, including $100m to restore double track for 26 miles from Greensboro to Charlotte. Other items that are $25m+: CRISP: Grade separate CSXT/NS/CATS in Charlotte, move CSX Tryon Yard to Pinoca $113m CRISP: northend improvements; grade separate 36th St, Eastway overpass, acquire ROW, eliminates 3 at grade crossings $73m Doubletrack Greensboro to McLeansville , various grade separations $55m CRISP: Charlotte southend, Charlotte WYE, 3rd mainline track, eliminate grade crossings $25m Charlotte Gateway Station construction: $34m Charlotte Gateway station track and bridge improvements 4th, 5th, 6th, Trade, Morehead $33m University station grade separation, 5 miles of double track (E of Hillsborough) realign 5 curves $31m 3 train sets passenger cars, cab cars, power/locomotives $75m (allows 5th frequency RGH-CLT and for SEHSR) SEHSR ROW $100m 5 miles 3rd track near Linwood Yard $30m double track 6.m Haw River to Mebane and bridge replacements $67m double track 6.5 miles Funston-Durham and 5 grade separations $37m Charlotte northern bypass new tryon St bridge, NS yard tracks and passenger track flyover $47m Western North Carolina 9 stations and platforms for Salisbury-Asheville service $30m SE NC 7 stations and platforms RGH-Goldsboro-Fayetteville-Wilmington service $35m 16 grade separations CLT-Durham $86m

I was at the ribbon cutting of the Durham Amtrak Station today. There were 250+ people there, way above any expectations. FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae was there. NC DOT Secretary Gene Conti annouced that tosay was the pre application deadline for High Speed Rail funds (final app due August 24) and NC had asked for $700m of the $8b pot. Details of the application should be online next week at http://www.bytrain.org There are apparently 90+ specific projects on the NC list. I think the largest is probably 26 nls of doubletracking between Greensboro and Charlotte,

pulled from today's committee agenda

I've used it to get from the State Government Mall to the AMTRAK station, and to go to lunch at more interesting places than the cafeteria in my office building (without using a car)

I think I was wrong so I deleted my reply

what do you mean "case closed"? I have seen extra trains parked beyond 7th Street waiting for the end of games at the arena to handle the rush of outbound patrons

the house was there until about 10 years ago. The birdge in fact was a driveway to the house, but I do not know if it was also access to any other properties

The FTA cost effectiveness formulas were designed to show that rail would be a failure, and to limit the number of eligible projects to the pitiful level of funding that the anti-transit Bush administration would provide. I think one can assume that for the next four years we will have new formulas that will have a metric geared toward approving projects rather than rejecting them.

well, actually, they are just across UC Blvd from campus at John Kirk Rd (used to be Old Concord)

The switch from diesel to light rail for the Triangle regioal rail project means greater track separation from the CSX coming from the north and the NCRR heading west from Boylan. Additionally, Raleigh has asked Southeast High speed rail to study bringing the high speed rail into Boylan via the NS tracks where they cross the CSX up on Capital Blvd about a mile north of Jones street. All of these moving parts make it hard to design the new station -- but the good news is that it should be an eligible project for 100% federal funding in the second wave of the High Speed rail funding. Also, if NCRR runs commuter service from Goldsboro, that could affect Raleigh station design. For hte first wave of funding SEHSR, the state is likely going to request funds for the Cary train station and Hopson Road crossing in the Triangle, both project of which will pick up some of the costs that TTA would have to spend

Yes, after passing second reading Tuesday 77-40 it passed third reading today 75-40. There was one floor amendment that requires any sales tax referendum to be in the May primary or November general election in the even numbered year, or at the same time as some municipal election in the county in either September, October, or November of the odd-numbered year (some cities, none in the Triangle, have September primaries in the odd-numbered year). Here is the complete status page if you want to see the different versions or look at the votes.

In addition to the MSD linked above, there is a specific one for TOD that was authorized by the General Assembly 4 years ago. They can overlay the other type of MSD, e.g. an area could be in two or more different MSDs. A streetcar is a rail line