GoTriangle is continuing to work with local and state officials to make the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project a reality. The organization hosted a tour Monday of the project corridor for congressmen David Price and G.K. Butterfield, along with other local officials. The corridor included the added stop at North Carolina Central University.

Butterfield said making the light rail connector a reality will help make traveling and commuting easier for all residents of Durham and Orange counties.

“The individuals who are leading this effort are transportation professionals who understand the importance of light rail and what it will do for families and workers and the business community and what it will do for the economy of this region,” he said.

There has been speculation about funding for the connector for months. The project, with the added stop, is set to cost nearly $2.5 billion. Originally, 50 percent of the money was set to come from the federal government, 25 percent was to come from a local sales tax and the remaining 25 percent was to come from the state.

However, in the 2016 state budget amendment, it was included that the state would instead pay up to 10 percent of the total light rail cost.

Local government bodies submitted letters in December stating that they would search for new options of payment to make up the difference that didn’t include imposing more of a sales tax on residents.

Congressmen David Price said that as long as everyone at the local and state level continues to do their part, collectively they could make the light rail happen.

“It’s an ambitious project but the commitment of our local citizens has been demonstrated,” he said. “We have good cooperation from our town and our county governments, city governments. It’s going to be city governments and I think we are on a good positive path to develop this, and to enhance the quality of life in our region.”

However, he said the federal government’s cooperation is also important. With a new administration in office, it’s unclear whether the Federal Transit Admission will still be able to contribute 50 percent of the total cost. Price is a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and says he will do everything he can to advocate for FTA funding.

“The federal government’s participation is essential to this,” Price said. “We are going to advocate for it very strongly but in the meantime, we understand that the best case we can make for this is the kind of thing we’ve seen this morning: evidence of good planning, of a sound concept, well-executed, with citizens buying in with the local revenue, and our local governments and local business communities cooperating fully.”

Butterfield said he will also advocate for the plan to continue moving forward, because it’s important that everyone in Durham and Orange counties has access to transportation.

“In the 21st century, we must find creative ways of moving our workers and the population from different points within a region,” he said. “Our interstate highways and our freeways have now become crowded and they’re very expensive to maintain. But a light rail is the choice of transportation for the future.”

GoTriangle officials said they are expecting a decision from federal officials regarding the latest application later this month.

Related Stories
‹
Updates on Light Rail, and Public Input too
GoTriangle will host its last open house on November 19 to collect public comments on the light rail and highlight changes brought to the project so far. The event, originally scheduled for earlier this week, was delayed because of the issues surrounding the water main break. The location and time will remain 5 to 7 […]
Orange County Facing April 30 Deadline for Light Rail Funding
After Orange County committed in December to consider spending an additional $40 million over a 10-year period on the Durham-Orange Light Rail project, the commissioners once again have a major decision to make. The Federal Transit Administration is looking for additional documentation to ensure the project can continue as planned. GoTriangle general manager Jeff Mann […]
Work Continuing on Durham-Orange County Light Rail Amid Budgetary Concerns
GoTriangle is continuing working with local universities, health care institutions, government and the private sector to continue its plans for a Light Rail that would potentially travel between Durham and Orange Counties – even while budgetary concerns remain due to a cap on light rail spending put in place by the General Assembly. After receiving […]
GoTriangle 'Optimistic' Light Rail Funding Will Be Restored After Surprise Alternate Cap from Senate
The Durham – Orange Light Rail project may not be out of the woods quite yet under the budget proposals from the North Carolina legislature. The 17-mile rail proposal has an estimated price tag of nearly $1.6 billion and would be funded at 50 percent with federal dollars, 25 percent from the state and 25 […]
Orange County Sets Public Hearing for Updates to Transit Plan
Ten years ago, Orange County voters approved a new half-cent sales tax to go toward a variety of transit projects and long-term expansion of connectivity through the county. As part of the measure, the county government created a long-term Transit Plan to help guide elected officials and staff on how to use those funds. Now, […]
Supreme Court: NC Railroad Isn’t Subject to Open Records Law
The North Carolina Railroad Co., a nearly 175-year-old company now owned fully by the state, can withhold documents from the public because it isn’t subject to open records laws, the state Supreme Court has ruled. A majority of justices upheld on Friday a lower court ruling that involved a 2019 lawsuit filed by the Southern […]
Subcontractor for North Carolina Transit Project Dropped
Officials of a North Carolina light-rail transit project have dropped a consultant who pleaded guilty in September to a fraud charge linked to his work as chief executive of an Arizona mass transit system. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project was using Stephen Banta, who served as chief executive […]
County Officials to Discuss Federal Pushback on Light Rail Project
Approval prospects for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project have become tenuous as a result of recent communication between GoTriangle and the US Federal Transit Administration. According to an agenda item intended for the Orange County Board of Commissioners, GoTriangle representatives will elaborate on the status of the project during a regular meeting scheduled for later […]
GoTriangle Touts Light Rail Project Ahead of Funding Request Deadline
As the municipal vote on whether to approve the Durham-Orange Corridor draws near, the Orange County Board of Commissioners heard from GoTriangle employees last week on the merits of light rail. Patrick McDonough, the transit authority’s manager of planning and development, told board members that projected regional growth rates reinforce the need for the project. […]
Congressmen Advocate for Light Rail Progress
GoTriangle is continuing to work with local and state officials to make the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project a reality. The organization hosted a tour Monday of the project corridor for congressmen David Price and G.K. Butterfield, along with other local officials. The corridor included the added stop at North Carolina Central University. Butterfield said […]
›