North Carolina's Rail Expansion: Proposed Amtrak Route from Salisbury to Asheville with Stops in Burke County Wins Federal Support

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division announced Friday morning a proposed Amtrak passenger rail route between Salisbury and Asheville — with likely stops in Burke — is one of seven chosen for further development through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Competitive Discretionary Grants Program.

Mimi Phifer and Barbara Lynam founded a local group called Waiting for the Train, which advocates for the return of passenger rail service. The group hosted a gala evening at the Morganton depot last week to rally support for the cause. Despite the cold weather, a large crowd turned out, with several state and local elected officials attending.

Phifer and Lynam were elated at Friday’s news.

“We’re very excited that the news has finally come,” said Lynam. “For it to happen right here in the holiday season is extra special. And for it to come so soon after the evening at the depot I think just carries on the momentum we’ve gained.”

Phifer agreed.

“I’m excited and I’m happy we get to take the next step,” said Phifer. “We’re moving in the right direction.”

Earlier in the week, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis issued a release announcing $3.5 million in federal funds to identify potential new rail routes or improvements across the state.

Tillis’ release identified the seven routes chosen from among the 12 corridors submitted by the NCDOT Rail Division as part of its Corridor Identification and Development Program (CID). 

Each corridor chosen will receive $500,000 through the Federal Government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The money will be used for Phase 1 of the process, which is “to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan,” according to the release.

Groups like the WNC Rails Committee have been trying to bring passenger rail service back to the area for more than two decades. But their efforts have largely gone by the wayside because federal money was in short supply. Now, though, the funds – most of them, anyway – are there. 

“It gives legitimacy to all of this, and for those who were a bit jaded by previous efforts, I hope it makes them excited and renews their interest,” said Lynam. “It’s going to take a community effort all up and down the line to make it happen.”

The next step in the process is preparation of a service development plan. Federal funding will cover 90% of the cost for the plan, with the remaining 10% coming from state and/or local funds.

After that, the project would move onto Phase 3, which would include preliminary engineering and environmental studies. Federal money would pay for up to 80% for Phase 3.

“Once these three phases are completed for a corridor, it will be ready for funding consideration for implementation through the Federal Railroad Administration’s grant programs,” according to the Rail Division’s website.

The $550 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, set aside $66 billion for passenger and freight rail service in the U.S. Southern Railway discontinued passenger rail service in the county in 1975.

“This $3.5 million in grant funding to identify and develop potential rail lines across North Carolina could be transformational in how North Carolinians travel,” said Tillis.

Marty Queen is the senior reporter for The Paper. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or at marty@thepaper.media.