The vision of re-establishing passenger rail service from Asheville to Salisbury suffered a setback when the North Carolina General Assembly chose not to allocate $28 million in funding. Despite this, advocates remain optimistic about securing the necessary funds in the future.
Governor Josh Stein had requested this funding in his April budget proposal, but the final budget, approved by the General Assembly and signed into law, did not include the allocation. This funding would have contributed to a $133 million state match needed to access federal funds for the rail line, reviving passenger rail service to western North Carolina for the first time since 1975.
Martin Wheeler, president of the Carolinas Association for Passenger Trains, noted that the delay is linked to issues at the Federal Railroad Administration, affecting several states. “A number of other states are being affected by the delay which may last another six to nine months,” Wheeler explained in a recent email to association members. “Support for rail passenger service is strong in the General Assembly so chances are good state dollars may flow when federal funds are released.”
Supporters of the project, including Ray Rapp, co-chair of the Western North Carolina Rail Committee, believe the delay is temporary. He mentioned that budget authorities have encouraged rail proponents to remain engaged for the next budget cycle. “While the appropriation was not included in the current budget, we have been encouraged to submit a request in the next one and to encourage local governments to plan for contributing to the local/state match,” Rapp communicated to BPR.
The entire project is estimated to cost $665 million, with federal funding expected to cover 80% of the expenses. State and local governments are tasked with funding the remaining portion. Efforts have been made to rally support at various levels, including a rail conference in Morganton held this spring. The WNC Rail Committee plans to host a significant update event in Asheville this winter, featuring insights from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
