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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 15, 2016 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-c <br /> SUBJECT: Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project - North Carolina Central University <br /> Extension <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: (919) <br /> 1. Memorandum — GoTriangle Request to DCHC- Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County <br /> MPO to Amend 2040 MTP and D-O LRT LPA Manager, 245-2300 <br /> 2. DCHC MPO Amendment #3 to 2040 MTP Patrick McDonough, GoTriangle, 485- <br /> (Tracked changes in blue font) 7455 <br /> 3. GoTriangle PowerPoint Presentation Craig Benedict, Planning Director, <br /> 245-2592 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive a presentation from GoTriangle on the Durham-Orange Light Rail <br /> Transit extension to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and on the related Durham- <br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) process to amend its <br /> Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and to <br /> consider endorsement or provide comments. <br /> BACKGROUND: In February 2016, GoTriangle received a Combined Final Environmental <br /> Impact Statement (FEIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit <br /> (D-O LRT) project from UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill to Alston Avenue in Durham. In response <br /> to comments received during that process, GoTriangle started to evaluate the option to extend <br /> the project south on Alston Avenue to a station near North Carolina Central University (NCCU). <br /> Preliminary engineering and ridership forecasts found the station to be feasible and capable of <br /> generating high ridership. GoTriangle is currently studying the natural environment and <br /> community impacts. <br /> Recent guidance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) indicates that the D-O LRT <br /> project must enter the Final Design phase by February 2017. In order to meet this milestone, <br /> allow the NCCU station to advance into the engineering phase along with the other parts of the <br /> project, and ensure that the entire new alignment qualifies for the 50% Federal match, two <br /> separate DCHC MPO actions must occur: 1) The extension needs to be included in its Locally <br /> Preferred Alternative (LPA) and 2) The extension needs to be included in its 2040 Metropolitan <br /> Transportation Plan (MTP). See Attachments 1 and 2. <br /> City of Durham, Durham County, and DCHC MPO Board Actions — While the City and County <br /> Boards do not have a role in approving the LPA or 2040 MTP amendments beyond their <br /> representation on the MPO Board, GoTriangle requested their "endorsement" before MPO <br /> Board consideration. The Durham City Council and Durham Board of County Commissioners, <br /> on September 22, and on October 4, 2016, respectively, voted to recommend that the DCHC <br /> MPO amend the LPA and 2040 MTP for the D-O LRT project. At its October 19 meeting, the <br />