The Ahoskie-based North Carolina and Virginia Railroad is among the 10 short lines in the state that will receive a part of a $10.2 million investment in a 50-50 matching grant for rail infrastructure projects.

The state Department of Transportation’s Rail Division said the state’s share of the $20.5 million for all the rail projects is provided through the NCDOT’s Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program. 

It will match equal investments from several railroad companies. 

The North Carolina and Virginia Railroad will receive $800,916 for track upgrades and improvement of a rail crossing along the mainline rail corridor in Northampton County.

“We are pleased to work with our short line railroad partners to improve the state’s critical freight rail network,” said Jason Orthner, NCDOT Rail director. “These projects are important investments to ensure our infrastructure can support growing transportation demands and economic development opportunities.”

The projects will improve 14 railroad bridges and 27 miles of railroad track in North Carolina, supporting the increase of freight rail traffic on the statewide railroad network, and reducing highway traffic congestion by diverting freight to rail.

Through the program, NCDOT’s Rail Division partners with railroad companies to support statewide freight rail infrastructure health, safety and performance. 

The division said this public-private partnership helps efficiently and cost-effectively meet the growing demand for rail service.