Durham-Orange light rail one step closer to billions in federal dollars

[TexasTowelie]

DURHAM -- Questions about whether federal budget discussions would halt the $2.47 billion Durham-Orange light-rail transit project were answered Friday.

The Federal Transit Administration approved moving the 17.7-mile light-rail project into the engineering phase — the last design piece before learning whether the counties could get 50 percent of the project’s funding by 2020 from the federal government.

“Today marks an important step forward for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project and our region’s transportation future,” said U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C. “I will continue working to ensure the federal government remains an active partner in this effort.”

The final federal decision also depends on the project getting up to 10 percent of its funding from the state and the remaining 40 percent from regional partners — roughly $890 million, plus interest on short- and long-term debt. GoTriangle plans to repay the debt through 2062.

Read more here: http://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article164214762.html

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I certainly hope this is a good thing.

I'm wildly in favor of public transportation, and light rail can be one of the best.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I use it where it is available.

I've been over most of the rail system in the Dallas area and was looking forward to the improved connections going to Fort Worth. I've also use the light rail in Austin, but the system there is somewhat limited.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. I currently live in Santa Fe, NM.

And while I love living here, the bus system leaves a bit to be desired. Although in fairness, there's a reason for that. The population is maybe 70,000, and since most people here, like most Americans in this country, have cars and tend to use them. However, I did finally figure out that I only need to walk a quarter mile to a bus stop to take a bus to get downtown, which I do on occasion. I have a friend who works downtown (I'm retired) and I sometimes meet her at the end of her work day and we'll go out for a movie or dinner or some such.

This city also has an excellent senior van service, and I've known people who've used it and it seems to be quite good. Someday when I (inevitably) will need to stop driving, I'll start using it.

If I ever relocate it will be to a city with much better public transportation. In my 20's I lived in the Washington DC area, and for my first seven years there had no car. This was before the Metro opened, but the busses were excellent. I only bought a car because I decided to go back to school and the logistics of the bus service to the junior college and to work just didn't cut it.

I'm a huge fan of public transportation.