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3 <br /> 3. Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Update <br /> a) Updated Cost Projections <br /> GoTriangle staff has provided the attached Orange County Bus and Rail Investment <br /> Plans Frequently Asked Questions document. GoTriangle staff will be providing a <br /> Powerpoint slide presentation prior to the meeting (which County staff will forward to <br /> all governing boards) and will make a presentation on the updated cost projections at <br /> the meeting. The governing boards can discuss issues related to this item as <br /> necessary. <br /> Attachment 3a — Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plans Frequently Asked <br /> Questions <br /> b) Extension to North Carolina Central University <br /> In February 2016, GoTriangle received a Combined Final Environmental Impact <br /> Statement (FEIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) for the Durham-Orange Light Rail <br /> Transit (D-O LRT) project from UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill to Alston Avenue in <br /> Durham. In response to comments received during that process, GoTriangle started <br /> to evaluate the option to extend the project south on Alston Avenue to a station near <br /> North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Preliminary engineering and ridership <br /> forecasts found the station to be feasible and capable of generating high ridership. <br /> GoTriangle is currently studying the natural environment and community impacts, as <br /> well as addressing state, federal, and local funding constraints. <br /> Recent guidance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) indicates that the D- <br /> O LRT project must enter the News Starts Engineering phase by February 2017. In <br /> order to meet this milestone, allow the NCCU station to advance into the next phase <br /> along with the other parts of the project, and ensure that the entire new alignment <br /> qualifies for the 50% Federal match, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan <br /> Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) has initiated two actions: 1) The extension <br /> needs to be included in its Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and 2) the extension <br /> needs to be included in its 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). <br /> At its October 19 meeting, the MPO Board released the amendments for public <br /> comment, which is taking place through November 29, and held a public hearing on <br /> November 9, 2016. The Durham City Council and Durham Board of County <br /> Commissioners (BOCC) endorsed the amendments in September and October, <br /> respectively. The Orange County BOCC received a presentation on the extension at <br /> its meeting on November 15. <br /> GoTriangle staff will provide a presentation on the extension to NCCU at the <br /> meeting, and the governing boards can discuss issues related to this item as <br /> necessary. <br /> No Attachments <br />