Late last week the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that about $600 million would be awarded through TIGER Grants (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) for fiscal year 2014. There were 72 projects awarded in 46 states, North Carolina received four grants.   North Carolina had one in the Asheville area, two in the piedmont, and one in the northeastern area of the state.

Project Name TIGER Grant Total Project Cost Project Phase
Asheville East of the River Multimodal Network $14,600,000 $29,200,000 Construction
The Northeastern NC Rail Improvement Project $5,800,000 (rural) $11,631,000 Construction
Duke Belt Line Trail Master Plan $222,700 $297,700 Planning
The Piedmont Study $200,000 $2,695,000 Planning

Here are details about each project that received funding:

  • Asheville East of the Riverway Multimodal Network – An interconnected six-mile network of pedestrian, bicycle, roadway, and streetscape improvements, including construction of three new greenways, a multimodal riverfront corridor, and conversion of a major street to a complete street. The project includes intersection improvements that will improve traffic flow, intersection geometry for truck movements, and safety in the corridor. Other elements include four key bicycle and pedestrian facilities that complete an on- and off-road system connecting neighborhoods to the commercial centers of the area.
  •  The Northeastern NC Rail Improvement Project – Will rehabilitate of portions of a 52 mile rail corridor that will allow for the operation of 286,000-pound rail cars along its length. Approximately 17.5 miles of new rail will be installed, crossties and eight main line turnouts will be replaced, four highway grade crossings will be rehabilitated, and approximately 30 miles of roadbed will be surfaced.
  • Duke Belt Line Trail Master Plan – A bicycle and pedestrian trail that would tie the Durham Station Transportation Center to the Triangle’s bus and rail system, connecting neighborhoods north of downtown seamlessly to the regional mobility network. At the southwestern end of the proposed 2.2 mile Duke Belt Line Trail corridor lies a multi-modal hub comprised of the Durham Station Transportation Center and Durham Amtrak Station. Combined, these two stations are served by 18 local bus routes, four regional bus routes, two intercity bus operators and six intercity passenger trains.
  • The Piedmont Study – A multi-modal corridor study to look at ways to improve transit connections and stations along the Carolinian and Piedmont rail lines. The proposal includes improvements to intercity rail, key terminals, and community-based connections in North Carolina. The study will examine overall accessibility to and within the region and how to support job creation along the rail corridor through improved multimodal linkage and access via motor coaches and regional transit operations.