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10 <br />Hill. Stations in Durham include Patterson Place along US 15-501, the South Square area, <br />at Duke Medical Center, Ninth Street, and downtown Durham, with convenient access to <br />nearby bus and Amtrak intercity rail connections. Due to the light rail vehicle's <br />capabilities and the requirements of the activity centers and neighborhoods being served <br />along the corridor, light rail stations are routinely spaced between % mile and 2 miles <br />apart. <br />Light Rail vehicles are electrically powered and travel at speeds up to 55 mph. The total <br />travel time for the 17-mile alignment is about 35 minutes, including stops. The vehicles <br />are approximately 90 feet long and can operate in both directions. Additional cars can be <br />added as demand increases. Recent 2035 projections indicate that ridership will exceed <br />approximately 14,000 boardings per day. These projections are subject to change as the <br />demand model is refined and as development, population and employment changes are <br />recognized. <br />Light rail vehicles can operate in exclusive right of way, as well as along urban streets, and <br />characteristically serve accessible low platforms (14 inches high) at each station. The <br />operations plan for the 17-mile alignment includes train frequencies (headways/ e.g. time <br />between each train) of 10 minutes during the morning and evening peak and 20 minutes <br />during the off-peak hours and on weekends. Vehicles will operate on an 18-hour schedule <br />each weekday. Several potential light rail vehicte maintenance facility locations are being <br />evaluated. Detailed alignment and station location decisions will be made at the end of <br />Preliminary Engineering. <br />The total capital cost for the Durham and Orange Light Rail Project is approximately $1.4 <br />billion (2011 dollars). Orange County's share is $316.2 million (2011 dollars). Operations <br />and Maintenance costs are estimated at $14.44 million/year (2011 dollars). Orange <br />County's share of the Operations and Maintenance costs are $3.2 million/ year (2011 <br />dollars). For Orange County's share of the capital cost of the Light Rail project the total <br />cost allocation is Orange County 25%, and an assumed State participation of 25% and <br />Federal Participation of 50%. <br />F. Martin Luther King Boulevard Bus Lanes <br />This investment provides for bus-only lanes on Martin Luther King (MLK) Boulevard from <br />Interstate 40 to Estes Drive. It will make bus travel times more reliable in peak periods. <br />Existing buses in the MLK corridor will be re-routed to take advantage of the enhanced <br />bus lanes. <br />Orange County's cost for the bus lanes is anticipated to be $20 to $25 million. This project <br />assumes 25% of the funding will come from the State and 50% of the funding will come <br />from the Federal Government. Since the bus lanes will be used by existing services, they <br />do not generate any additional operational costs within the plan. <br />5/8/2012 - Page ~ 8 <br />