US DOT Secretary Buttigieg Visits North Carolina to Kick Off National Summer Construction Tour

On July 1, 2024, Governor Roy Cooper joined US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Raleigh for the first groundbreaking of the S-Line Project, the major infrastructure project that will revitalize the Southeast Corridor of passenger rail, and a visit to the Blue Ridge Road construction site, a project that will improve traffic flow, access, and efficiency along the Raleigh Beltline. This visit is the kick off of Secretary Buttigieg’s national summer construction tour during which he will visit active construction sites and groundbreakings for critical infrastructure projects across the country that are made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.

The Governor and Secretary Buttigieg were joined by North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins and other officials as they highlighted infrastructure projects and federal investments in the state.

“North Carolinians are clear they want safe, convenient and inexpensive ways to get where they’re going,” said Governor Cooper. “These investments in our infrastructure will provide new transportation options and extend rail services in and out of our state.”

“I’m thrilled to kick off a nationwide tour of summer construction, with our first stops right here in North Carolina alongside Governor Cooper,” said US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Breaking ground on a new rail line between Raleigh and Richmond, seeing construction on highway and pedestrian/bike projects in Winston-Salem, and announcing new funding to help more people safely reach bus stops in Durham, we are highlighting progress on infrastructure being driven by President Biden's infrastructure law.”

The Governor and Secretary Buttigieg attended the groundbreaking of the new S-Line Rail Project as part of the Raleigh to Richmond Innovating Rail Program, creating a faster passenger rail route between the two cities. Just seven months ago, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $1.09 billion investment in the project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $1.09 billion grant marks the largest grant the NCDOT has received to date.

The S-Line rail corridor is a freight line, owned by CSX, that connects Richmond and Raleigh on the federally-designated Southeast Corridor. Once the Raleigh to Richmond program is complete, the passenger rail service will save over an hour of travel time between the two cities. The service will also allow much more frequent and reliable train service, and make the trip to Washington D.C. car-competitive.

The Secretary and Governor also toured the Blue Ridge Road construction site that will create a grade separation running Blue Ridge Road underneath Hillsborough Street, Norfolk Southern/Carolina Railroad/CSX tracks and Beryl Road. This project will help make the road safer for pedestrians, including those accessing the State Fairgrounds.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making an historic investment of over $415 billion to improve the nation’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit and its ports and airports. The Bipartisan Infrastructure law is bringing $9.3 billion in funding for over 439 projects to North Carolina.