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.”
It’s disappointing to hear that #DOLRT isn’t going forward. 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 https://t.co/xlfqxDaNnW
— Rep. Chaz Beasley (@ChazBeasley) March 28, 2019
“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.”
A lot of hard work and excellent leadership was invested by local government officials throughout DOLRT planning. My personal thanks to @damonseils and @lydialavelle, who have faithfully represented @CarrboroTownGov on the MPO board. https://t.co/zv433RCqpv
— Bethany Chaney (@Chaney4Carrboro) March 27, 2019
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.
Duke played a big role in killing project, announcing at the last moment that it refused to accept line on its property. But NC railroad, which was hesitant to allow light rail near its property, and NC legislature, which mandated an early deadline for funding, are also to blame.
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) March 28, 2019
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.”
This was just seven years ago.
"I am writing on behalf of Duke University to enthusiastically support the Durham-Orange Light Rail Project in North Carolina." pic.twitter.com/aKdVNe9Zmm
— We're All In This Together (@CharlieReece) February 28, 2019
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.”
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. I’ve watched them work tirelessly and passionately on this project and I stand in awe and gratitude of their work.
— Erik Landfried (@DurhamComplete) March 27, 2019
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.
Duke killed the light rail
— Matt Tyler (@Matt_Tyler_RTHS) March 28, 2019
Another major threat to energy security is the lack of lower energy transportation solutions, like light rail. Unfortunately, @DukeU was the major cause behind the failure of light rail in the Triangle and is directly responsible for increased energy demand and climate impact.
— Jason Baker (@jehb) March 28, 2019
Other sources of dust in homes include the particulate matter emissions from vehicles, such as the thousands of vehicles that @DukeU's actions on the Durham Orange light rail project will be adding to the roads. #dolrt
— Jason Baker (@jehb) March 28, 2019
Probably being stuck in lots of traffic every day I imagine.https://t.co/blygSCgeNF
— Jesse Budlong (@JesseBudlong) March 27, 2019
wow…what completely schlocky and one-sided reporting. Really guys? Nothing about how DOLRT and GoTriangle sunk this completely on their own? Without Duke, with the Railroad…this project would not have worked anyway. Overplanned, poorly proposed and severely underfunded. And IF it had worked we all would have said goodbye to any other transit solution funding for the next decades. The money for BRT, gone. Where in the heck were we going to have the public funding to cover the rest of the bill for a LRT that didn’t even do what it was designed to do. Did you even READ the EIS that they paid for (we paid for) that specifically said that zero net reduction in emissions would result from this? Did you not see fit to mention that not one passenger would have set foot on this boondoggle for another 10 years? You also didn’t mention that it would have cost a pretty penny for one way transits. This project moved forward on good intentions and that became blind urgency. The right mission statement that just never would have worked as designed, but no one was willing to say it…not at GoTriangle at least. So now the railroad and Duke take the hit. And papers fall into lock step with GoTriangle without looking at the facts. No word about how they were $500 million over budget? No word about the backroom deals and closed door meetings? Bah..terrible reporting.
I doubt that the reason Duke gave to kill the light rail project is their real reason.
Change the headline, please! Not in the least reflective of the taxpayers on social media who opposed this abomination. Political and academic types are not representative of citizens.
a) They’ve been working on this project since Billy Bob was hooking up with interns in the White House.
b) For those who couldn’t complete kindergarten, Duke can both support the bloated tram AND oppose a piss pour routing choice along with a gross demand. Change the route and the project lives.
c) This is GoTriangle’s board using Duke as a cover story to end a bad decision. Y’ll have dodged a bullet. Thank them.
d) This project would’ve done nothing for traffic. Even their own numbers claim that it’s .08% of cars off the road. If you have a 400 pound person and they loose 5 ounces, it doesn’t make a difference. The chicken little’s claim it does. They’re very wrong.
e) Bicycles. If you gave a shit about the poor in Durham being able to get around, the easiest, quickest, greenest thing you could do is get them a bicycle. For those not virtue signaling to their tribe, get out and do it.