North-South Rail Transit System:
This is being led by private developers, connected with downtown's IQ District (innovation district), and two universities. They have already met with the neighborhoods along the existing rail line and are now ready to begin the next steps. Global engineering & services firm WSP, based in Canada, will be hired to conduct a feasibility study on using the existing unused Norfolk & Western rail line, on the city's High Line project, for a North-South rail transit system. The study will cost $100,000 to $125,000, but the city will only have to pay $50,000, since others involved are also covering part of the cost. They will have to involve the city to secure some of the federal and state funding required, but will keep the amount paid by taxpayers at a minimum. A person at the presentation said the city may only have to pay around $1 million for construction, if their estimates are correct. This rail transit system will connect nearly all of the colleges and universities in Winston-Salem to downtown's IQ District. It will also connect the LJVM Sports & Entertainment Complex to downtown, allowing downtown residents to take a train to basketball, football, USTA tennis, the fair, skate park, concerts, and Thunderbirds hockey games. There are several old industrial buildings along the rail line that could become more attractive for conversion into office/residential/entertainment/arts uses. Since most of the route will have dedicated right-of-way (ROW), it should be a fast service and arrive on time. The project is expected to cost around $38 million. This was always planned as a part of the High Line project and appeared in the renderings. We have discussed this rail service in the past, on this thread, but this is the official announcement and the beginning of moving this from renderings and ideas to reality. Yes, it's finally moving forward.
Company to be hired:
https://www.wsp.com/en-US/sectors/li...and-streetcars
Rail transit system shown on the recently completed High Line project:
Credit: Design Collective
Completed rail work as part of the recently completed High Line project:
Credit: Stimmel Associates
A look at the existing rail on the High Line project to be used for the rail transit system:
Credit: Mitchell Loll
When working on the High Line project, everything involving the rails was designed for rail transit, so they have nearly completed this one segment of the rail transit system project.
Existing rail to be used for rail transit system (Notice this part of the project is nearly completed):
Credit: alpha.mayga
This should be somewhat fast to build, since half of the rail is already in place.