§ 136-253. Grants to other units.
§ 136‑253. Grants toother units.
(a)       Eligible Entities;Purposes. – State agencies and railroads are eligible to receive grants underthis section from the Fund for any of the following purposes:
(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Assistance to short‑linerailroads to continue and enhance rail service in the State so as to assist ineconomic development and access to ports and military installations. This mayinvolve both the Rail Industrial Access Program and the Short LineInfrastructure Access Program, as well as other innovative programs. Grantsunder this subdivision shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the nonfederalshare and must be matched by equal or greater funding from the applicant. Totalgrants under this subdivision may not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000)per fiscal year.
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Assistance to anyrailroad in the construction of rail improvements, intermodal or multimodalfacilities or restorations to (i) serve ports, military installations, inlandports or (ii) improve rail infrastructure to reduce or mitigate truck trafficon the highway system. Grants under this subdivision shall not exceed fiftypercent (50%) of the nonfederal share and must be matched by equal or greaterfunding from the applicant. Total grants under this subdivision may not exceedten million dollars ($10,000,000) per fiscal year.
(3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Assistance (i) tothe State ports in terminal railroad facilities and operations, (ii) to improveaccess to military installations, and (iii) to the North Carolina InternationalTerminal. Grants under this subdivision shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) ofthe nonfederal share and must be matched by equal or greater funding from theapplicant. Total grants under this subdivision may not exceed ten milliondollars ($10,000,000) per fiscal year.
(4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Expansion of intercitypassenger rail service, including increased frequency and additional citiesserviced. Routes under this subdivision must extend beyond the territorialjurisdiction of a transportation authority.
(b)       Commuter RailService Grants. – State agencies, railroads, transportation authorities underArticle 25 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, regional publictransportation authorities under Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the GeneralStatutes, and regional transportation authorities under Article 27 of Chapter160A of the General Statutes are eligible to receive grants under this sectionfrom the Fund for the introduction of commuter rail service. Routes under thissubsection must extend beyond the territorial jurisdiction of a transportationauthority.  (2009‑527,s. 1.)