GoTriangle Trustees Vote to End Light Rail

On Wednesday, March 27th, the GoTriangle Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend terminating the Durham – Orange Light Rail project. Leading up to the vote, GoTriangle President & CEO Jeff Mann listed numerous impediments the project faced, including:

  • Major last minute cost increases totaling $237 million;
  • Local funding shortfalls of $88 million;
  • Increased contingency required by FTA of $271 million;
  • Failure to secure cooperative agreements with NC Railroad and Duke University; and
  • Inability to meet deadlines for $190 million in state funding.

Jeff Mann’s report from his meeting with the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) made it clear that even severe cuts would not make the project viable given the accumulated problems. The FTA gave this project the lowest possible rating in terms of transit value for dollars invested. See additional comments.

Affordable Transit for All presented this letter to the Trustees before the vote.

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