Approved transit plan keeps Durham-Orange Light Rail alive

GoTriangle

The Durham-Orange Light Rail project remains eligible for more than $1 billion in federal funding following approvals of updated county transit plans from several stakeholders.

The counties of Durham and Orange, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and GoTriangle Board of Trustees all voted last week to approve new county transit plans and a revised cost-sharing agreement.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) had imposed an April 30 deadline for submitting updated documentation for the project in order to keep its eligibility for federal funds.

In addition to light rail, the new transit plans include investments in expanded bus service in both counties, planning funds for a commuter-rail connection between Durham and Wake counties, a new Amtrak station in Hillsborough and improvements to bus stops, bike and pedestrian connections and other transit facilities.

GoTriangle will send the newly approved plans to the FTA as part of the application process to move the light-rail transit project into the final design or engineering phase.

“This is a historic moment and a significant investment in the future prosperity of Durham, Orange and Wake counties,” said Wendy Jacobs, Durham County Board of Commissioners chairperson and GoTriangle board member. “Through strong collaboration and hard work, we’ve enhanced our transit plans to best meet the needs of our residents and visitors and to improve the vitality of our regional transportation network with bus and rail connections. The support of our four local boards brings us one step closer to receiving the green light from the Federal Transit Administration for the design and engineering of the Durham-Orange Light Rail project and one step closer to making this integrated regional transit system a reality.”

According to the updated cost-sharing agreement, of the local funds needed for design and construction of the light-rail project, Durham County will pay 81.5 percent and Orange County will pay 16.5 percent. GoTriangle, its county partners and the Funding and Community Collaborative (a group of local business, education, health care and community leaders) will work together to raise the remaining two percent through philanthropic and corporate donations.

Federal funds are expected to pay 50 percent of the $2.476 billion project construction and design cost, with 10 percent coming from the state.

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