FRA approves NCDOT request to shift $15 million to fund Raleigh station project

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has given written approval for the North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) proposed amendment to the Piedmont Improvement Program cooperative agreement, which would provide Raleigh, N.C., with an additional $15 million for the Raleigh Union Station construction project.

Last month, the FRA indicated it would approve the state's request to re-program the $15 million from another Piedmont project to be used for the Raleigh station. The additional $15 million is expected to close the gap needed to build the station that will serve as a hub for rail and bus service, NCDOT officials said in a prepared statement.

"Our team has worked closely for months with the [FRA] to identify additional funding as we remained committed to helping build this vital station," said NDCOT Secretary Tony Tata. "We stayed engaged with city leaders throughout the process, but we had to ensure the money was available and that our existing agreement was properly amended."

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2015 on a 26,000-square-foot multi-modal station to support commuter, intercity rail and bus services in downtown Raleigh. The project will replace a small Amtrak station built in 1950.