The U.S. Department of Transportation and the State of North Carolina finalized a grant agreement for $20.3 million, which will serve as the first installment of the $545 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant awarded to the state in January to continue its development of high-speed intercity rail.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will use the $20.3 million to refurbish passenger coaches and locomotives to expand rail service across North Carolina.
The Federal Railroad Administration is actively working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on additional grant agreements for the remaining $525 million to further develop the state's high-speed rail corridor.
Nationally, ARRA provided an $8 billion down payment for high-speed rail.