The East Durham Rail Crossings Study, led by the Durham County Transportation Department, is a multi-year effort funded by a $1,220,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The purpose of the project is to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity for all users along the one-mile rail corridor crossing South Plum Street, South Driver Street, and Ellis Road through identification of roadway and rail corridor improvements that will provide safer options to cross over the railroad.  

An at-grade railroad crossing is where the roadway crosses the railroad tracks at street-level. Even with crossing arms present, at-grade crossings can present safety and mobility issues. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reports that crashes at at-grade crossings are the second leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the United States. All three crossings being examined in the study (South Plum Street, South Driver Street, and Ellis Road) are at-grade crossings.

This study kicks off in late 2026 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2029. Alternatives analysis is scheduled throughout 2027 and 2028. Any alternatives being considered will be presented to the public for feedback.

The study is funded by a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Durham County was awarded $1,220,000 for the study through the FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. The project requires a 20 percent local match of $305,000, which is funded through the Durham County Transit Plan. The total cost of the study is $1,525,000.

Safety issues have been studied at these crossings many times over the years. In 2014, NCDOT completed the City of Durham Traffic Separation Study, the purpose of which was to “determine the need for improvements and/or elimination of public at-grade crossings to improve safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians, rail passengers, and train crews.” All at-grade crossings in Durham were studied. Some projects recommended in this study are currently underway and are being led by NCDOT. 

Since that study, the three crossings have continued to present safety issues and barriers to mobility. The City of Durham’s 2017 Bike+Walk Implementation Plan identified the need for improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to cross the railroad at South Driver Street; it also proposed new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along Pettigrew adjacent to the railroad crossings at South Plum Street and South Driver Street. Additionally, the City’s Move Durham: Central Durham Transportation Study in 2020 identified the three study crossings among the lowest-quality crossing locations in the study area. It recommended prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian crossings of the Durham Freeway and the railroad corridor to increase neighborhood connectivity and mobility options. 

More recently, the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study was published in 2023 by GoTriangle. The current conditions of the at-grade crossings in East Durham were identified as barriers to rail mobility. The Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study was completed and it was determined that commuter rail was not feasible at this time. While commuter rail is not being pursued, passenger rail (i.e., Amtrak) continues to expand in the state. The safety and mobility issues at these crossings also present challenges for passenger rail expansion.  

In 2022, Durham County, with support from the City of Durham, Triangle West Transportation Planning Organization, GoTriangle, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, applied for the funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination program to fund the East Durham Rail Crossings Study. The County was awarded the funding in 2023. This study builds upon past planning efforts to provide a fresh perspective. The goal of this study is to identify roadway and rail corridor improvements that will provide safer options to cross over the railroad. It will look at one-mile segment that encompasses these three at-grade crossings. The study is scheduled to be complete in mid-2029.

The study will look at possible improvements to three railroad crossings: South Plum Street, South Driver Street, and Ellis Road. Options may include building a bridge or underpass to separate the road from the rail tracks, closing a crossing, adding new road connections, or making other safety upgrades. As these crossings are currently publicly accessible, all the possible options will be shared with the community for input through three phases of engagement to ensure the final plan reflects what the surrounding community would like to see in this area.

No, this is a study only and does not include construction. At the conclusion of the project, there will be a preferred alternative selected based on technical analysis, environmental review, and multiple phases of community and stakeholder engagement. Following the completion of the study, Durham County anticipates working with regional, state, and federal partners to pursue funding for the construction of the preferred alternative.

Rail operations in the project area are conducted by two operators: Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) and CSX Transportation (CSX). In the project area, the rail network is predominantly NS-controlled.  The primary east-west rail corridor is owned by the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) and operated by NS through an exclusive freight trackage rights agreement.

In North Carolina, railroad crossing projects have typically been led by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). NCDOT often uses a combination of state and federal funding for rail projects. Durham County is leading the planning phase of this project only. 

This website will be updated regularly with information about the project and opportunities for input.