Project Costs
DOLRT costs are currently estimated at $3.3 billion ($2.5 billion plus $800 million in debt), and will tie up our transit funds for decades. A new financial plan is under development that could add hundreds of million of dollars to the cost, and place funding for schools and essential services at risk.
- Since the first plan was issued in 2012, project costs have tripled and the local share (Orange and Durham portion) has more than tripled as well (see figure below).
- Regional and local service expansions will wait decades to be funded with our transit taxes.
- Durham County alone will need to pay $1.5 billion toward the project according to 2017 numbers.
- The plan currently under development may try to use general funds or reserves – normally designated for schools or essential services — to backstop DOLRT funding gaps.
- This project depends on Federal funding, which has not been approved. Click here to see how many other national transit projects are competing with this funding request.
- January 10, 2019: Meeting Durham and Orange county leaders asked to consider backstopping project costs as price tag rises by $300-$500 million. The Finance Task Force Report from that meeting was received through public records request, and can be viewed here.
This graphic below was prepared in 2017, illustrating the jump in local costs. It has since increased even further, by at least $250 million.
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