Title
D-O LRT Corridor in CTP (20 minutes)
Aaron Cain, LPA Staff
Narrative
In 2016 the DCHC MPO Board incorporated the alignment of the proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit (D-O LRT) corridor into the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). In 2019, the D-O LRT project was discontinued and no further work has been done to advance the project. However, the D-O LRT corridor remains identified in the CTP.
The Durham Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) states that land for transportation corridors identified in the CTP must be reserved through a site plan or rezoning with a development plan. The Durham City-County Planning Department has stated concerns about this requirement and its application to the 2016 North Carolina Supreme Court case Kirby v. NCDOT, in which the court determined that NCDOT's use of the Map Act was an unconstitutional taking and required NCDOT to compensate landowners for property held in reserve for future transportation projects. Conversely, GoTriangle has identified the D-O LRT corridor as a possible future bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor serving Durham and Chapel Hill, particularly the off-road segments that could greatly aid future transit timeliness and efficiency.
The TC is asked to discuss and provide guidance to MPO staff as it finalizes CTP Amendment #3. A memo is attached that provides further background and information.
Recommendation
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the D-O LRT corridor be removed from maps in the CTP, but that statements identifying the need for high capacity transit along the US HIghway 15/501 Corridor between Durham and Chapel Hill be included.
TC Action: Provide direction to MPO staff on the inclusion or removal of the D-O LRT corridor in CTP Amendment #3.