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 told commissioners at Tuesday night’s meeting the organization has until the end of April to deliver this documentation.

“Acknowledging the updated cost estimate and funding strategy for the project and to confirm that at least 30 percent of the non-federal funds remain committed in order to move into the engineering phase,” Mann said. “That’s the threshold that has to be in place to move into engineering.”

GoTriangle asked both Durham and Orange Counties for additional funding after the state government reduced the maximum amount it would invest in projects like Durham-Orange Light Rail. This resulted in a potential $200 million funding gap, which, if not closed, will drop the project from the FTA’s New Starts Program. While in the program, the federal government will reimburse GoTriangle and the counties for half of the total stated cost of the project. But Mann said they run the risk of losing that money if they fall out of the program.

“If we do not provide documentation to their satisfaction by the end of April, the project would automatically be withdrawn from the New Starts process,” Mann said. “We could then apply to reenter later. There is no certainty whatsoever that you would be allowed to reenter the New Starts process, so that’s a significant risk.”

In order to satisfy the needs of the FTA, Mann said he wanted the county pass a Bus and Rail Investment Plan in April. The plan was scheduled to appear before the board in June, but it would have to be moved up to meet the FTA deadline. After taking comment from the public, many of whom expressed opposition to light rail, the commissioners turned their focus toward gathering more information from GoTriangle. Commissioner Earl McKee said he wanted more answers.

“We’ve got a lot of people here tonight asking questions, good questions, questions that in several instances I didn’t even think about myself,” McKee said. “And these folks deserve an answer. These folks are the ones that’s going to be paying for this thing.”

Commissioner Barry Jacobs proposed the idea that the commissioners compile a list of questions to be formally sent to GoTriangle. This would give GoTriangle an opportunity to respond in writing before any major decisions are made. Commissioner Mark Dorosin said he was in favor of the idea.

“Obviously if we have this April 30 deadline from FTA, all these questions that the residents have raised, all the questions that all of us have raised and continue to raise,” Dorosin said, “they have to be answered.”

The commissioners will also receive a report from an independent financial advisor in their meeting April 4. The draft of the Bus and Rail Investment Plan will be made available to the public April 3 and a public hearing will be held April 18.

Orange County Facing April 30 Deadline for Light Rail Funding

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