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The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has filed six applications with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars under the high-speed and intercity passenger-rail program.

The applications total $92.6 million, of which NCDOT is requesting $75.9 million in FRA grants and pledging a total of $16.7 million in matching funds. The ready-to-go projects include rehabilitating locomotives and passenger equipment for new service, doubling the size of the Cary station, adding parking in High Point, lengthening the boarding platform in Burlington and grade separating Klumac Road in Rowan County.

In addition, NCDOT has applied for funds to complete environmental studies and engineering necessary to extend high-speed rail service to western and southeastern North Carolina.

NCDOT worked with the North Carolina Railroad Co., Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX Transportation and Amtrak to complete the applications.

Meanwhile, the state is partnering with the commonwealth of Virginia to submit additional ARRA applications. The states will request funds to complete final engineering for the development of a shorter Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor route, with top speeds of 110 mph, connecting Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va. The states also seek a grant to complete a corridor development plan connecting Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh with Richmond and Washington, D.C., with passenger trains traveling at top speeds of 90 mph to 110 mph. Those applications are due by Oct. 2.