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Earlier this week, the North Carolina Department of Transportation broke ground on a Cary Depot project that’s being funded through high-speed intercity passenger rail funds included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The $2.2 million grant will help fund improvements such as expanding the station to accommodate full Amtrak service, including ticket and baggage handling, and additional trains and passengers. The project also includes lengthening the boarding platform, adding parking, and installing a passenger information display system to provide visual and audible messaging for impaired passengers.

The project is expected to be complete by August 2011. The Cary Depot is the first of nine stations that will be upgraded using ARRA funds. Other stations will be upgraded in Kannapolis, High Point, Burlington, Raleigh, Charlotte, Salisbury and Raleigh.

North Carolina received a total of $545 million in stimulus funds to advance high-speed rail improvements in the state.