This research effort is part of a collaborative research project between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and North Carolina State University’s (NCSU’s) Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE). NCDOT Rail Division's mission is the “…safe and efficient movement of people and goods on North Carolina's railroads through freight, passenger and safety programs, supporting job creation and economic growth." These objectives are integral in serving North Carolina's citizens, visitors, and industries. The ITRE research team, including the principal investigator, has contributed substantially to the literature regarding economic effects of transportation facilities in North Carolina over the past 12 years. The team has led or been a substantial contributor to several statewide studies (aviation, ferry, ports, transit, freight/logistics), in addition to targeted infrastructure economic contribution studies in those and other modes in North Carolina. The project captures the economic contribution of the NC rail system, both freight and passenger rail. The final deliverables include the economic contribution and jobs contribution of the rail system; capturing rail supported businesses and an online rail business mapping tool.
