Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro includes light rail in long-term plan

The Chapel Hill and Carrboro areas might eventually implement a light rail system to alleviate traffic and reduce crowding and gas consumption.

The light rail is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan.

David Bonk long-range and transportation coordinator for Chapel Hill" said the railway's tentative route is about 15 miles long.

""What it would do is provide people in the region with alternatives to driving"" he said. That motivation to take that alternative could be driven by congestion or the cost of gasoline and the availability of gasoline.""

The proposed system would begin at N.C. Memorial Hospital" go out Manning Drive to N.C. 54 and into Durham County and then come back into Chapel Hill at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. 15-501.

Bonk said stations would be located at UNC Hospitals the 54 East project the Friday Center Meadowmont Village and the intersection of I-40 and U.S. 15-501.

There would also be a stop at the Smith Center which would be used only on game days.

Robb Kehoe of Hillsborough an employee at UNC's School of Medicine" said that in the long run a rail system would be an advantageous option.

""The buses are good" but they're usually crowded. And parking fills up fast" Kehoe said. I think the rail route would be infinitely cheaper. Car- and bus-based systems are not the answer.""

Bonk said the project is at least 10 to 12 years from completion" but even that time frame assumes that taxpayers are willing to fund the project. Some money could come from the federal government but Bonk said a 0.5 percent sales tax increase would be the main source of funding.

The first light rail system in North Carolina began to operate in Charlotte last November.

Tom Livingston who is in charge of development and construction for the Charlotte Area Transit System said the LYNX Blue Line has been overwhelmingly successful.

Stretching 9.6 miles it is currently estimated to have 16000 riders per day nearly double the number of riders originally projected.

Tamara Norris49 of Carrboro said the proposed system might be less effective than Charlotte's because this area's population is more dispersed.

Still" she supports the idea of a light rail system.

""I think we should have done it 20 years ago"" Norris said. I would love to see it. I think people would take advantage of it.""

Spencer Glazier" who is living in the area for missionary work uses the bus system often" but he said a rail system might be more convenient.

""I think it would be a good idea and decongest a lot of commuter traffic" Glazier said. You'd be able to alleviate more bus routes" and you'd be able to get around faster than the bus system.""

Bonk said the public has been supportive of the project.

""We've generally gotten positive feedback from the public"" he said. I think everyone believes we need some sort of transit. The details may be in the alignment and where it actually goes.""



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