The city and county could be chipping in to smooth part of the way for Vertex Rail Technologies to begin manufacturing rail cars in Wilmington.

Wilmington City Council will consider a resolution at its meeting Tuesday night to share the cost with the county and N.C. Department of Transportation of extending Raleigh Street to River Road to provide additional road access for Vertex Rail, a company planning to hire more than 1,300 employees and invest more than $50 million in the former Terex Crane manufacturing facility at 202 Raleigh St.

According to the proposal, the city and county would each spend $300,000 and the N.C. DOT contribute the remaining $900,000 of the $1.5 million project to extend Raleigh Street and associated turn lanes on River Road. When the work is finished, according to the city’s proposal, the N.C. DOT would offer to dedicate the improvements to the city.

“I think the deal that’s been worked out is a good one. I think it’s appropriate,” said councilwoman Laura Padgett on Monday. “It’s a pretty good deal for that many jobs and that improvement in the tax value.”

At a City Council agenda briefing Monday, councilman Charlie Rivenbark asked that the city's resolution stipulate “no more than" $300,000 would be paid by the city for the work.

“Before we commit to it, I want them to commit,” Rivenbark said of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners signing off on the county spending $300,000 as well. He added, “I’m sure they’ll do the right thing and come up with their part of it.”

The issue is expected to be part of the agenda for the March 16 New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting, said Charles Smith, county public information officer.

The city’s resolution states that Wilmington’s contribution is contingent upon the county’s decision whether to share the cost. The City Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers at City Hall.

In addition to the resolution involving Vertex Rail, City Council is also expected to consider several other issues: an ordinance that would exempt the State Port from a limited portion of the city’s land development regulations; an agreement for the city to lease from the N.C. DOT the old rail corridor between Third and McRae streets for the use of a greenway and multi-use trail; and rezoning of 26 acres for a residential project with commercial components at Oleander Drive and Greenville Loop Road, according to the council's agenda.