Update on Light Rail from Triangle Transit
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The document discusses plans for a proposed light rail transit project that would run between UNC Hospitals and East Durham along 17 miles of track with 17 stations. It would have an end-to-end travel time of 39 minutes and average weekday ridership of 23,000 by 2035. Alternative routes were evaluated and five locations are under study for a rail operations maintenance facility while public input is being gathered on the environmental, economic, and social impacts.
Update on Light Rail from Triangle Transit
- 1. Economic Development & Public Policy Committee Meeting Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project 1 Commerce
- 2. 3
- 3. Where are people going? Over 150,000 employees and students 4
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- 5. Travel Intensity High in Corridor 6 2040 Trip Intensity Map
- 6. Goals of the Proposed Project 7 Expand Transit Options and Enhance Mobility Serve populations likely to use transit Foster compact development 255,000 trips by 2035
- 7. 8 Alternative Routes evaluated
- 9. 10 Projected travel patterns for 2035
- 10. Every 10 minutes of additional commuting time cuts all other forms of civic engagement by 13 10%
- 11. Courtesy of Charlotte Area Transit System 14 (CATS)
- 12. Durham-Orange LRT Project • 17 stations along 17 miles of exclusive tracks primarily at-grade with elevated sections at key locations • Between UNC Hospitals and Alston Ave in East Durham • End-to-end travel time 39 minutes • Service: 7 days per week, 18 hours per day 10-min during peak hours 20-min off-peak and on weekends 15 • Average weekday ridership: 23,000 boardings by 2035
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- 14. Rail Operations Maintenance Facility (ROMF) 17 Charlotte, NC 5 locations under study Only 1 site will be selected ROMF interior example
- 15. Technical Analysis EIS 18 Public Input Social Impacts Economic Impacts Environmental Impacts
- 16. Transit Oriented Development The Millennium Bland Street Station Area BEFORE AFTER 22
- 17. Agency & Public Involvement 150 + public/community meetings 23
- 18. Let us know what you think! (800) 816-7817 info@ourtransitfuture.com www.ourtransitfuture.com PO Box 530, Morrisville, NC 27560 24
Editor's Notes
- #2: Good afternoon and thank you for participating in our webinar. My name is Natalie Murdock and I am the Public Involvement Manager for the project. Today we will provide an overview of the Durham Orange Light Rail project and outline next steps in the process.
- #3: Today we will provide a summary of the transportation problem Review the project goals, and overview of the project Review project alignment options Review next steps And let you know how to contact us to get additional information regarding how this project will impact your property
- #4: - As affected property owners you are probably asking why are we pursuing this project and why these locations Entire region experiencing a significant Transportation Problem Triangle region is experiencing a lot economic development and population growth causing more and more congestion - Growing in population – up by 32% in this corridor alone in 30 years - Existing congested roadways Many of you have experienced how bad traffic is today Roadways will continue to become more and more congested - 15-501 and 54 limited ability to widen our existing roadways to address this problem and accommodate the growing traffic
- #5: Over 30,000 Duke Over 20,000 UNC This is a highlight of the major employers, additional employers along corridor
- #6: So that leads us to our proposed project It begins at UNC Hospitals, the Friday Center, Gateway ( intersection of I-40 and 15-501), Patterson Place, South Square area, Duke Hospital area and into downtown Durham You can see that light rail stations are located at areas that experience a lot of congestion and support future development plans
- #7: THIS picture provides a 3D representation of just how congested the Durham-Orange Corridor is - This 3D depiction demonstrates the intensity of travel patterns in the areas that will be served by the Durham Orange Light rail project - Purple represents the highest # of trips predicted for 2040 - as you can see the highest number of trips are along US 15-501 at the Chapel Hill / Durham border and NC 54 from Exit 273 towards Chapel Hill - This includes Patterson Place and the South Square area
- #8: MAYBE These studies helped to identify several goals that needed to be achieved to solve the transportation problem - Lets quickly review the goals of the proposed light rail project Enhance mobility 56,000 residents and 81,000 jobs coming to corridor = 255,000 trips by 2035 Relieve congestion on key corridors (15-501 and 54)Current bus system primarily operates in mixed traffic, reducing optimal travel time savings Expand Transit Options Need more options to connect to Durham and Chapel Hill Serve populations likely to use transit CHT, DATA and Triangle serve an average of 73,000 riders each weekday, to put that into perspective the Charlotte’ light rail averages 15,000 riders a day Foster compact development Durham and Chapel Hill development plans call for mixed-use development and higher density within the D-O Corridor This project aligns with decades of local planning that focuses future development along this corridor
- #11: - This is a map that illustrates the traffic flows within the project corridor – where people are projected to go in 2035 - Over 27,000 people are going from downtown Durham to Chapel Hill As you can see these sub-areas also have a significant number of trips which demonstrates the need for light rail that would serve short trips within the corridor. Not just talking end to end 15-20 routes, over 16,000 riders
- #12: - Studies of what potential transportation solutions could look like have occurred for decades - This project stems from 20 years of planning in coordination with local governments that include the City of Durham and agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration and NCDOT A Special Transit Advisory Commission considered 18 corridors All of them concluded that 15-501 and 54 are the busiest and most congested corridors These studies considered what types of major transit investments should occur along the Durham Orange Corridor US 15-501 Major Investment Study 2035 Joint LRTP Transitional Analysis Report Alternative Analysis Scoping Report
- #13: So what exactly does LRT look like Along the line park and ride stations will also people to park along the line and catch the train from there
- #16: - So that leads us to the proposed project - 17 miles, 17 stations - Traveling between UNC hospitals and Alston Ave - End to end travel time 39 minutes - Service 7 days a week - With trains operating every 10 minutes during rush hour With an expected 23,000 boardings by 2035 Powered with electricity through overhead lines, so its quieter
- #20: MAYBE Our project and Seattle are the only two light projects in the nation that have received federal approval to advance to this step.
- #21: Gavin speaks: YES When we examine the light rail line, we’re looking at several alternatives
- #23: North Carolina’s first Light Rail Transit Service has been a catalyst for almost $1.5 Billion of new or planned development along Charlotte’s South Corridor, a formerly under utilized rail corridor. Within less than three years of operation, daily transit ridership exceeded their 2020 forecast levels and now averages 15,000 trips per day.
- #24: We’ve already been very active just since March, 50 + presentations We’re setting up presentations like this one today If you have suggested groups we should be presenting to, please let us know