Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott told commissioners Monday that the State Rail Plan continues to identify Weldon as a critical future access point for passenger rail in eastern North Carolina. 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation released the plan for public comment last month, and the period remains open through January 20.

“We’re very well positioned to benefit from the state strategy,” Scott told the board as she presented a summary. 

The board agreed by consensus to accept Scott’s recommendations.

Working with DOT before COVID 

The Economic Development Commission has been working with the NCDOT since before the pandemic, when the state suggested it was time for a passenger rail station in Weldon. 

The state remains interested in working with the county on the Weldon plan, which includes reverting the current Weldon Public Library back to a depot, as it was in the town’s passenger rail heyday. “They told us that we needed to look at putting some money in a pot that could be used during the prioritization process,” Scott said.

She noted that $150,000 was raised between the county, the town of Weldon, Halifax Business Horizons, and the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

When COVID-19 hit, the prioritization process stopped. The subsequent prioritization process occurred after Hurricane Helene devastated portions of Western North Carolina, resulting in no new projects being initiated.

A Weldon-to-Raleigh rail plan was one of 12 passenger rail corridors under consideration. While only seven were granted federal funding and Weldon was not among them, it remains a part of the long-range plan. “The bottom line is, we’re a great location for a passenger rail station. There’s no denying that,” Scott said. “We’ve just got to come up with a plan to help us develop a project-ready stance with DOT so that we’re not just waiting for them to guide it, but that we have a role in guiding our future for this project as well.”

The summary 

In the summary presented to the board, Scott noted that while Weldon has "credible standing" in the state plan, the document emphasizes that local action is required to remain competitive. 

She explained that funding gaps exist because statewide needs currently exceed committed funds, making federal discretionary grants essential. 

Success depends on local efforts regarding station planning, right-of-way needs, and alignment with NCDOT priorities. Furthermore, NCDOT anticipates coordinating with Virginia rail leadership to study extending the corridor to Petersburg and Richmond.

Strategic importance of Weldon

The State Rail Plan identifies Weldon as a critical future access point for passenger rail in eastern North Carolina. 

Proposed Corridor: A Weldon-to-Raleigh corridor is explicitly identified to connect local riders to the statewide network, specifically the Piedmont and Carolinian services.

Regional Connectivity: The plan links Weldon to the Southeast Corridor (Raleigh to Richmond), filling a 58-mile service gap between Rocky Mount and Petersburg.

Economic Projections: A 2020 NCDOT study estimates a Weldon station would generate 12,000 riders annually and nearly $400,000 in new annual passenger revenue.

Freight Foundation: The plan includes funded freight rail safety projects on the CSX corridor in Weldon, reinforcing its status as an active freight node.

Recommendations for Halifax County and Weldon 

To capitalize on this inclusion, the HCEDC recommends the following actions:

Re-Convene Working Groups: Establish a group including representatives from Halifax County, the Town of Weldon, and the NCDOT Rail Division.

Build a Project-Ready Package: Develop a scope that aligns with current NCDOT priorities.

Conduct Mobility Hub Study: Re-engage NCDOT for a study estimated at $200,000, partially funded by a 2022 NC General Assembly appropriation.

Improve STI Scoring: Partner with the Peanut Belt RPO to increase the project's point value during the Strategic Transportation Investments scoring process.

Outreach: Engage with Virginia rail partners and allies like CSX and the NC Railroad to support regional expansion.

Funding programs 

Scott told the board that additional funding programs are expected in the future. “They can help us with some of the detail work, like the engineering studies and things of that nature,” she said.