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Wake Transit Funding Contribution to NCDOT National Railroad Partnership Program Grant Application
Ben Howell, CAMPO Staff/Jason Orthner, NCDOT Rail Division
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The 2035 Wake Transit Plan sets aside $250 Million for Regional Rail investments that have a direct and quantifiable benefit to the existing or planned transit network, including new rail stations, track improvements and funding more trips on existing services. NCDOT has requested Wake Transit to provide matching funds from the Regional Rail investments funding for a federal grant to extend the S-Line rail investments from Wake Forest to Franklinton, potentially allowing for additional regional rail trips in the Wake County region (see the NCDOT memo attachment for more information). The total grant request is $625 Million, with matching funding of $125 Million over 7 years, beginning in FY27, from Wake Transit. The TPAC has recommended that the Wake Transit Governing Boards (CAMPO Executive Board and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees) support the grant and dedicate the matching funds from Wake Transit to the grant. The TPAC discussion included concerns about the amount of the request and the fact that the project goes outside of Wake County. However, the TPAC ultimately decided to support the project with Wake Transit funding because approximately 20% of the mileage of the project, which is the percentage of the local match request, is within Wake County. There were two dissenting votes at the TPAC, by Wendell and Apex, with the Town of Cary representatives abstaining from the vote.
The TCC received a presentation on the proposed funding contribution and discussed it at their meeting on January 8, 2026. The TCC discussion included concerns about how much of the project would be in Wake County and concern over not having more detailed study from Wake Transit before reserving this funding for the project. The TCC also discussed that this is a good opportunity to show movement on regional rail in the Triangle region and could help with future rail capacity to provide another modal choice for citizens travelling to or from Wake County for work or other reasons. The TCC voted to recommend the Executive Board approve the resolution supporting the project and dedicating Wake Transit funds as local match, with the Town of Apex, Town of Garner, and Town of Wendell representatives voting No on the motion - all other TCC members in attendance voted in favor of recommending approval of the resolution. The three representatives voiced concern about tying up approximately half of the regional rail funding in the Wake Transit Plan so quickly, for a project that has a majority of the mileage and expense outside of Wake County.
The GoTriangle Board of Trustees Audit and Finance Committee considered the request at their meeting on January 14, 2026, and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees will consider the request at their meeting on January 28, 2026.
If the attached resolution is approved by the CAMPO Executive Board and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees, the funding will be included in the FY 27 Work Plan and the Capital Improvement Program that will be approved as part of the FY 27 Work Plan.
Requested Action: Action Adopt the Resolution of Support and Dedication of Wake Transit Funds as Local Match Towards the NCDOT Raleigh to Richmond Program Application to the National Railroad Partnership Program Grant.