North Carolina SB 952: Repeal STI Cap on Light Rail/Fund Rail Safety.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 952

Short Title: Repeal STI Cap on Light Rail/Fund Rail Safety. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Mohammed (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S952-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REPEAL THE STI FUNDING CAP ON LIGHT RAIL AND TO APPROPRIATE 2
FUNDS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY ON THE CATS BLUE LYNX RAIL LINE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 136-189.10 reads as rewritten: 5
"§ 136-189.10. Definitions. 6
The following definitions apply in this Article: 7
... 8
(2) Division needs projects. – Includes only the following: 9
... 10
e. Public transportation service not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of 11
this section. This sub-subdivision includes commuter rail, intercity 12
rail, and light rail. Nothing in this sub-subdivision shall be construed 13
as authorizing total State funding in excess of the maximum 14
established in sub-subdivision g. of subdivision (3) of this section for 15
commuter rail and light rail projects. 16
... 17
(3) Regional impact projects. – Includes only the following: 18
... 19
g. Public transportation service that spans two or more counties and that 20
serves more than one municipality. Programmed funds pursuant to this 21
sub-subdivision shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of any distribution 22
region allocation. This sub-subdivision includes commuter rail, 23
intercity rail, and light rail. Total State funding for a commuter rail or 24
light rail project shall not exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the 25
distribution region allocation or ten percent (10%) of the estimated 26
total project costs used during the prioritization scoring process. The 27
State shall not be responsible or liable for any project costs in excess 28
of the maximum established under this sub-subdivision. Any 29
agreement entered into by the State to fund a commuter rail or light 30
rail project shall include language setting out the limitations set forth 31
in this sub-subdivision. 32
...." 33
SECTION 2. G.S. 136-189.11(d1) is repealed. 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 952-First Edition
SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of 1
Transportation the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2
2026-2027 fiscal year to be used for safety and security on the CATS Blue Lynx rail line. 3
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 4