S-Line Commuter Rail Study
About
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division is leading several transit-oriented development planning initiative for seven communities, including Sanford, on a 95-mile-long section of the S-Line rail corridor.
The goal for the corridor is to better connect rural and urban communities, improve and expand freight and passenger services, and significantly reduce rail travel times between Raleigh and Washington D.C.
Transit Oriented Development
Transit oriented development (TOD) creates compact mixed-use communities near transit where people enjoy easy access to jobs and services.
TOD is centered around mobility hubs, like transit stations, that offer connections to multiple modes of transportation. TOD typically includes a mix of housing,
office space, retail, civic spaces, and neighborhood amenities within walking distance of a mobility hub.
TOD offers a broad range of health, environmental and economic benefits. It allows for more transportation choices, reduces the need for driving, and preserves rural/natural areas by supporting more compact, walkable communities.
Mobility Hub Planning
The project partners will move on to mobility hub analysis. A mobility hub is a place of connectivity where different travel options come together, offering an integrated suite of mobility services, amenities, and supporting technologies – accessible space to connect multiple transportation mode options to an individual’s origin of destination.
The mobility hub planning phase is scheduled for June 2023 through December 2025.
Project Partners
NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division
NCDOT Rail Division
Apex, Franklinton, Henderson, Norlina, Raleigh, Sanford, Wake Forest and Youngsville
Kittelson & Associates
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Project Phases
S-Line Transit Oriented Development Study
Regional S-Line Mobility Hub Plan
Important Dates
NCDOT Receives FTA Grant for Transit Oriented Development Planning
On December 15th, 2020, the Federal Transportation Administration awarded NCDOT $900,000 to plan for TOD at 13 stations along a proposed passenger rail corridor between Sanford and Henderson, connecting rural and urban communities in the Triangle region. View the announcement here.
NCDOT & Communities Receive $3.4M RAISE Grant for Regional S-Line Mobility Hub Plan
NCDOT received $3.4 million in RAISE Grant funding to support the planning and preliminary design of mobility hubs in Apex, Franklinton, Henderson, Norlina, Sanford, Wake Forest, and Youngsville. View grant application here.
S-Line TOD Study Final Report
Communities along the S-Line rail corridor in central North Carolina now have plans and strategies to prepare for Transit Oriented Development, thanks to the S-Line TOD Study Final Report. The report was released by the N. C. Department of Transportation in July 2023. Read a release about the study here.