WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $48.3 million for North Carolina and Virginia to advance the development of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, which will link Raleigh, NC, to Washington, DC via Richmond, Va.  These grants will ultimately spur high-speed and intercity passenger rail development as far south as Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, Ga., and to the Tidewater Region of Hampton Roads and Norfolk, Va.

“Thanks to the investments we are making today, Americans across the Southeast will have convenient access to faster, more efficient passenger rail connecting to destinations all along the Northeast Corridor,” said Secretary LaHood.   “Passenger rail will also help alleviate traffic along congested sections of I-95, foster economic development and provide Americans with a greener, cleaner, more sustainable way to travel.”

The federal investment announced today will fund a number of high-speed rail projects in North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC:

•  North Carolina – $4 million for environmental and design work for the construction of a new connection between Raleigh and Richmond, that could reduce travel time to just two hours between the two cities, a reduction of one hour and 30 minutes from the current schedule. The North Carolina Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, will contribute $3.9 million toward this project.

•  Virginia – $44.3 million for environmental analysis and preliminary engineering to prepare for the construction of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor between Washington and Richmond. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will contribute $11.1 million toward this project.

“The population growth we have seen over the last decade in the Southeast is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what we will see by the middle of the century,” said FRA Administrator Joseph C. Szabo.  “The cooperation between these states and DOT has shown a strong will to connect the region by high-speed rail and ensure the region’s economy keeps moving and growing.

Thirty-two states across the U.S. and the District of Columbia are currently laying the foundation for high-speed rail corridors to link Americans with faster and more energy-efficient travel options. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations have provided $10.1 billion to put America on track towards providing new and expanded rail access to communities and improving the reliability, speed, and frequency of existing service. Of that, more than $7.6 billion has been obligated to date.