RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in
NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
REAL ID Implementation Pushed Back to 2025
The new implementation date for the REAL ID has been pushed back two years. The new federal implementation date is May 7, 2025.
Getting a REAL ID enhancement on your driver license or state ID card is completely optional. If you plan to fly commercially, or visit federal, military, or nuclear facilities, you probably want to get one or you'll have to provide additional documentation - like a passport.
Visit
NCREALID.gov for more info.
Charlotte Gateway Station Phase 1, Testing Complete
The first of two phases on a new multimodal station in Charlotte is complete.
The first train to use the newly completed railroad at
Charlotte Gateway Station went for a test run last week. The train tested clearances for the newly built boarding platform. The department completed Phase 1, which included construction of tracks, railroad bridges, boarding platform and supporting rail infrastructure, on time and within budget.
Charlotte is working with its developer on Phase 2. Once complete, train riders will move from the current station to this one.
Ride NC By Train to NC State Bowl Game
People planning to go to Charlotte to watch NC State University play the University of Maryland in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl game are encouraged to consider riding the train.
NC By Train will get fans to Charlotte ahead of the noon kickoff and will leave the station a few hours after the game has ended.
Book tickets at
NCByTrain.org and don’t forget to take advantage of the
Share Fare discount – which allows riders to save more money when they buy more tickets.
Tree of Life Ceremony
A tree on the North Carolina State Capitol grounds in Raleigh remains decorated for lives lost on our roadways.
Last week, people gathered for the
25th annual “Tree of Life” ceremony to honor those who died in North Carolina vehicle crashes in 2021.
The tree features 1,794 red, white and blue lights and ornaments with each representing one of the people killed in a traffic crash last year.
As a reminder, many deaths can be prevented, if people would follow these tips: