$157 million for nothing; officials break down costs of failed passenger route in N.C.

Duke University was the main reason the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project was stopped.

The rail project that never happened in Durham and Orange counties in North Carolina still cost millions of dollars.

Officials broke down the expenses in a report on the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project. GoTriangle and contractors were in the second stage of the process to receive $1 billion from the Federal Transit Administration when the project was officially axed in March 2019.

About 83% of the $157 million spent, about $131 million, went towards management and design. There were four major consulting contracts approved to deal with federal funding and construction approval. Project staff, administrative support, and the project office called for 10% of the cost, or a little over $16 million. Real estate expenses were over $6 million. Other expenses included the redesign of an UNC-Chapel Hill golf course plus additional professional services and operational costs.

GoTriangle wants to take a crack at another commuter rail project, but before plans advanced officials wanted to be briefed on what happened to the money that was spent on the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project.

To avoid similar mistakes in the future, Durham and Orange counties have implemented a governance study.

Read more articles on passenger rail.