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The NC Department of Transportation Rail Division currently
has several projects underway in the Charlotte area. The
following briefly describes each project and contains
information on how to obtain more details.
Proposed Second Track Installation &
Realignment of Tracks at Selected Curves (P-3414N)
NC 49 to Orr Road
A 12.2-mile section of second main track will be replaced on
the old roadbed primarily on the west side of the existing
track from south of Concord to Charlotte. New crossovers will
be constructed and select curves will be realigned for
improved passenger train speeds. The new double track section
will greatly improve rail corridor capacity, resulting in
improved passenger train schedule reliability and freight
traffic flow. Planning and environmental work is underway; a
construction date has yet to be determined.
For more information, please contact Marc Hamel at
919-733-7245 or email at:
mhamel@ncdot.gov.
Charlotte Rail Improvement Projects (CRISP)
Norfolk Southern Mainline Improvements (P-3800)
The NCDOT Rail Division proposes to realign the Norfolk
Southern (NS) rail line and implement track improvements
necessary to reduce congestion, improve reliability and return
passenger rail service to center city Charlotte. This project
will also assist in introducing high speed passenger rail
service to Charlotte. The proposed project will extend along
the NS railroad from the Charlotte Junction (near Morris Field
Drive to Orr Road. The project proposes to close three
existing at-grade roadway/railroad crossings and upgrade one
existing roadway/railroad crossing. (The term
“grade-separation” means to elevate on roadway/railroad over
the other with a bridge.) Other roadway/railroad crossings
will also be studied for closure or safety improvements. This
project will also improve rail operations, increase freight
and passenger rail efficiency, and eliminate the inherent
safety concerns associated with at-grade roadway/railroad
crossings.
CSX/Norfolk Southern Mainline Grade Separation (P-5002)
The NCDOT Rail Division proposes to grade separate the
existing at-grade crossing of the CSX rail line and Norfolk
Southern (NS) mainline where they cross in Charlotte’s Fourth
Ward neighborhood (adjacent to the ADM facility). The
proposed project will place the CSX mainline in 3,400 foot
long trough that will run below the existing grade of the NS
tracks. This project will eliminate five existing at-grade
roadway/railroad crossings and will grade separate one diamond
railroad/railroad crossing. This separation will enhance
safety, reduce noise, emissions and energy use, while
improving rail operations and increasing efficiency for
freight and passenger rail.
For more information about both CRISP projects, contact Marc
Hamel at
919-733-7245 or
mhamel@ncdot.gov.
Back Creek Church Road Highway/Rail Crossing Improvement
Project (P-3814A)
The purpose of this project is to improve safety for
motorists, rail passengers and train crews by improving
traffic signal operations, reducing prolonged traffic back-ups
and eliminating difficult maneuvering conditions.
Please click here to go to NCDOT’s Rail Division’s website for
more information:
http://www.bytrain.org/safety/tss/backcreek/default.html
Piedmont & Northern Railroad Reactivation & Cedar Yards
Improvements
The NCDOT Rail Division proposes to reactivate freight rail
service on the existing Piedmont & Northern (P&N) Railroad
between Mt. Holly and Gastonia in Gaston County. As a part of
this project, there are potential plans to made improvements
to the Cedar Yard facility (near Bank of America Stadium)
facility in Charlotte in anticipation that passenger rail
service may be reactivated. At present, there are no plans to
reactivate freight or passenger service on the P&N Railroad in
Charlotte.
For more information, contact Mark Reep of Ko & Associates at
mreep@koassociates.com
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