On March 27, the Durham-Orange Light Rail project seemingly met its end when GoTriangle announced they would be recommending to transit partners to discontinue work on the project.

The project, which has been in discussions for roughly two decades, hit a major impasse in February when Duke University did not agree to sign a cooperative agreement which would allow the light rail construction to occur on Duke property. In a letter, Duke officials said they were concerned about the project’s proximity to the university’s hospital.

It did not take long for social media to react to GoTriangle’s decision.

“It’s disappointing to hear that #DOLRT isn’t going forward,” wrote State Representative Chaz Beasley. “Projects like it are critical to the future of our growing state. The #NCGA should encourage these projects, not set arbitrary deadlines that make them difficult to implement. #ncpol.”

“A lot of hard work and excellent leadership was invested by local government officials throughout DOLRT planning,” wrote Carrboro Alderman Bethany Chaney. “My personal thanks to @damonseils and @lydialavelle, who have faithfully represented @CarrboroTownGov on the MPO board.”

https://twitter.com/Chaney4Carrboro/status/1111004965575757824

Many people blamed Duke University, whose decision to not sign the collective agreement came at the very last moment. Yonah Freeman, a Durham native and PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said that other organizations needed to be held accountable as well.

https://twitter.com/yfreemark/status/1111081617227948032?s=20

Duke’s decision to essentially kill the project came as a shock to many involved. Durham City Council member Charlie Reece uncovered a letter penned in 2012 by Michael Schoenfeld, Duke’s Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations, which stated the university’s “enthusiastic” support for the light rail project.

“Over the past two decades, this region has experienced unparalleled expansion that has trained the current transportation network. Our ability to continue this positive momentum, which has produced both economic growth and an enviable quality of life, will almost certainly be jeopardized without the sustainable investment in light rail and related projects.”

Other people took to social media to express their gratitude toward the individuals who worked behind the scenes to move the Durham-Orange Light Rail project forward.

“I am immensely proud of my colleagues @GoTriangle who have worked for years and in some cases decades on the Durham-Orange Light Rail Project,” wrote Erik Landfried. “I’ve watched them work tirelessly and passionately on this project and I stand in awe and gratitude of their work.”

https://twitter.com/DurhamComplete/status/1110972407970521088?s=20

While Duke University did not put an official statement on social media regarding GoTriangle’s decision, people still found a way to voice their anger over the school’s decision by responding to unrelated tweets from Duke.

https://twitter.com/Matt_Tyler_RTHS/status/1111406813071601665?s=20

https://twitter.com/jehb/status/1111072825505472514?s=20

https://twitter.com/jehb/status/1111075682946375680?s=20

https://twitter.com/JesseBudlong/status/1111052979828776960?s=20

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