CARY - Future rail projects in the region have drawn skepticism from town officials, who worry regional transit initiatives will change the look of Cary without providing any real benefit to the town.

Council members and staff learned about plans for the new federally funded Southeast high-speed rail line at a transit work session last week.

Speakers from the N.C. Department of Transportation, the Triangle Transit Authority and Wake County spoke about upgrades to the Cary train depot and the effect more frequent trains could have on the town.

The information session followed the announcement of a $545 million federal grant for the high-speed line last month. For many town officials, this was the first detailed discussion of the plans - which were crafted a year ago to expand service between Raleigh and Charlotte and Raleigh and Richmond.

"It is an intellectually challenging area because it involves multiple levels of government that must work together cooperatively in trying to implement a vision that is not understood or clearly articulated today," Councilman Erv Portman said.

The money will include faster, more frequent stops and an upgrade to the Cary train station, located on North Academy Street, including an expanded passenger station, platform and parking lot.

Track improvements will speed up trains at spots where they have to slow down now, and by 2015 the top track speed is expected to increase from the current 79 mph to 90 mph.

Council members expressed frustration that the process did not include the town's input. "It's very confusing and disappointing that we've only been recently made aware of these plans," Councilman Don Frantz said.

It's also unclear how this will benefit Cary specifically, Portman said.

"Who even needs this faster train from here to Charlotte? And who's cost-justifying this? Billions of dollars to go from 60 miles an hour to 90 miles an hour? What are we doing?" Portman said. "The challenge we have is the U.S. Congress isn't asking us those questions. They might find our opinions interesting, but they've already approved the funds to do some of this."

To accommodate higher speeds and ensure safety, it's been customary for state transportation officials to close railroad street crossings.

Because of this possible change to Academy Street and Harrison Avenue, the project could slow the town's plans for downtown redevelopment, officials worry.

"We fear this could impede on the ability for people to move around in this area," Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson said Tuesday. "We don't feel like we could go on with the redevelopment of downtown."

Frantz added: "What sense does it make to create a new traffic system for a high-speed rail when you're going to negatively impact the existing traffic system? I just don't see how this benefits our community."

The station upgrade will increase ridership, lead to faster and safer boarding and enhance customer service at the "heavily used station," according to the state's approved grant application.

Patrick Simmons, director of the rail division at NCDOT, said as the project moves forward, Cary officials will be needed to make decisions.

"We're not here to tear apart your community," he said.

Council members agreed they needed to hear more information about the plan. NCDOT officials said they would be preparing a timeline soon.

"We need to determine the best way to make it an advantage for Cary and to minimize the unpleasant aspects of it," Portman said. "Do we understand enough to know what that means? Probably not yet. But we need to get that information to understand it better and weigh in on it more intelligently."

Meanwhile, officials also head from local leaders about plans for regional light rail.

The proposal for the light rail would connect Triangle communities but does not offer special service to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, a design decision that also perplexed Cary officials.

Wake County officials said they were seeking input from municipalities while crafting a master transit plan.

That master plan could lead to a voter referendum in 2011 for a half-cent sales tax increase to help pay for the new lines.

"We need to get up to speed and understand not only our options but whose advocating what and what's being proposed," Portman said. "In the next year, these issues are going to go from vague ideas to specific plans."