Franklinton, N.C. — A proposal to construct a high-speed rail line between Washington, D.C., and Charlotte has some city officials in North Carolina concerned about the effect it would have on small towns.
“If you look at the way this rail will run and the closures that will occur, it will essentially divide our town in half,” said Franklinton Mayor Elic Senter.
Senter said closures along Pearce, Joyner, Mason, College and Hawkins Streets would restrict how people can get around town. Though Franklinton streets don’t have much traffic, Senter said closing certain roads could change that.
“It’s really going to put a hardship on us,” Senter said.
The state Department of Transportation said it would add upgraded crossings and three pedestrian crossings in Franklinton if the high-speed rail project is approved.
About six miles away in Youngsville, town leaders said the high-speed rail service would likely force the DOT to build a bypass for N.C. Highway 96, which could reduce the city’s traffic issues.
The multibillion-dollar train would make stops in Richmond, Va., Raleigh and dozens of smaller towns. It would not make as many stops as Amtrak does now, however.
Using the rail, the estimated travel time between Raleigh and Charlotte would between two hours and two hours, 50 minutes, depending on the number of stops. A trip from Raleigh to Richmond would be about two hours. The Raleigh-to-Washington, D.C., trip would be about four hours, which could take more than an hour off the same trip in a car, depending on traffic on I-95.
High-speed rail would cost less per mile than air travel or driving, officials said.
Small towns concerned about high-speed rail plans
- Reporter: Beau Minnick
- Photographer: Keith Baker
- Web Editor: Kathy Hanrahan
13 Comments
-
- 'Good and faithful servant' Jesse Helms praised, remembered
Updated Jul. 8 11:23 p.m. |
- Severe weather moves through Triangle
Updated at 12:53 a.m. |
- State lottery thrives as economy dives
Updated at 12:51 a.m. |
- Motorist hit by alleged drunk motorcyclist lost daughter to drunk driver
Updated Jul. 8 6:17 p.m. |
- James Johnson files complaint against former attorney
Updated Jul. 8 11:16 p.m. |
- 'Good and faithful servant' Jesse Helms praised, remembered
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Jesse Helms funeral
Posted Jul. 8 8:33 p.m. - N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms: 1921-2008
Jul. 7, 2008 - Pet Photos | June 30 - July 6, 2008
Jul. 4, 2008
- Jesse Helms funeral
-
10 questions with Cary police K-9 Handler Jeremy BurginK-9 Handler Jeremy Burgin answers your questions about training his dog Max, bullet-proof vests for dogs ...
-
10 questions with State Schools Superintendent June AtkinsonThe state's schools chief answers your questions about funding for schools, seatbelts in buses ...
-
10 questions with Cary Mayor Harold WeinbrechtHarold Weinbrecht answers your questions about the town's reputation, annexations, growth ...
(1 votes) 1973 n.c. state team capsule
(1 votes) franklinton fighting fatal crash lawsuit
-
-
Campaign Trail Photos of the WeekView photos from the past week on the campaign trail from AP photographers around the country.
-
Gas Prices across the nationSee the cost of gasoline in all 50 states, as reported by the Associated Press.
-
Southern Regional Soccer championshipsChampionship games were held Wednesday, June 25, at the Southern Regional soccer tournament in Raleigh and Wilson.
-
Warehouse cheaper than grocersMonica Laliberte compares the prices of fourteen common items at warehouse stores and regular grocery stores.




STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.