RALEIGH, NC—City officials announced on Thursday plans to break ground on the first phase of the Union Station project here in the spring of 2015.

The first phase of Union Station, a joint initiative of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division and the City of Raleigh has an estimated cost of $73 million.

Current funding for the project totals $66.25 million through a series of federal grants, and state and local matches. The city's contribution to the construction is $5.75 million. The first phase will include the renovation of the Dillon Supply Co. warehouse at 510 West Martin St. into a passenger rail facility. The groundbreaking has been set for March 21, 2015.

Once completed sometime in 2017, the station will transform the transportation infrastructure of Raleigh, city officials say. Not only will the station serve Amtrak passengers, the station will add new retail and commercial office space to its warehouse district location. The station will feature three levels of restaurants, shops and offices, and offer visitors a rooftop view of the Downtown Raleigh skyline.

In 2012, Raleigh's Amtrak Station served 164,000 passengers, making it one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the southeast. But the location and size of the current train station cannot accommodate the expected increases in ridership. Additionally, the current station only has 1,800 square feet of passenger waiting space and only 54 parking spaces, city officials note.

In other development news in Raleigh, the city, in collaboration with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, presented its draft Downtown Plan on Thursday evening at Marbles Kids Museum at 201 E. Hargett St. Another session was scheduled for today at the City of Raleigh Museum at 220 Fayetteville St.

The Downtown Plan will create a 10-year vision that includes short, mid, and long-term improvements to Downtown Raleigh, with possible phasing scenarios that are widely supported and achievable. The plan will also identify and analyze redevelopment, public-realm, infrastructure, and connectivity improvements.

Instant Insights /

Raleigh Announces Union Station Groundbreaking in 2015

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