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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 regiona...
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