Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) purchased 52 acres of land from CSX Corp. today, allowing TTA to obtain the necessary right of way for the entire  35-mile rail line corridor. The CSX property encompasses that portion from Government Center in downtown Raleigh to Spring Forest Road. This segment of the regional rail project is expected to open in 2010.

TTA purchased land in the CSX right of way to be used for its own tracks, which will be no closer than 26 feet from the existing CSX track, for the operation of FRA-compliant diesel multiple units planned for the regional rail system. The CSX corridor currently is used by both freight and passenger service.

General Manager John Claflin says, "This parcel of land was purchased to complete the regional rail project extending to the North Raleigh stations." The transaction was for $24.5 million, which included real estate costs and operational impacts. "The CSX right of way allows us to position our planned station sites to better serve the ridership demand. We are fortunate to be able to take advantage of a long-existing transportation corridor as this reduces the costs of relocating residences and businesses."

TTA is completing final design of the project and is in the process of acquiring land around the stations for parking and bus access. TTA will soon apply for the federal Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the Federal Transit Administration's 50 percent share of the $813 million project (in 2007 dollars). In April, TTA and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) signed the first-ever state FFGA ensuring NCDOT's support in principle to fund 25 percent of the project, pending annual appropriations. The remaining 25 percent is from the five percent tax on rental car receipts in Durham, Orange and Wake counties.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. In addition to its regional bus services and commuter resources, TTA plans to implement a 35-mile regional rail system with 16 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The regional rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2007 or early 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919)549-9999.