NC S243

NC Department of Transportation must study the cost and feasibility of commuter rail service connecting dense population centers in the Piedmont Triad, incorporating growth projections through 2050

Study must analyze early-phase routes between Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, with a phased construction plan prioritizing highest-ridership routes first

Required study components include daily ridership estimates, projected annual operation costs, land/rail rights acquisition costs, and recommendations for a managing entity

$100,000 in nonrecurring Highway Fund money allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to conduct the study

Report due to Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation and Fiscal Research Division by December 29, 2025