As many of you know, Go Triangle, a partnership of public transportation agencies and organizations funded to promote commuter benefits in the Triangle, has been working on a proposed Durham-Chapel Hill Light Rail Transit Project.  We wanted to take a moment to provide the community with an update on where things are with this project.

GoTriangle has submitted its draft environmental impact statement which is available at the ourtransitfuture.com website. Farrington Road was the recommended location for the Rail Operations and Maintenance Facilities “ROMF”, which means the Cornwallis Road “ROMF” alternative was not recommended.  Even so, we believe it is important for our community’s voice to continue to be heard. Accordingly we encourage you to attend a public information and/or public hearing or make a comment.

There will be two public information sessions, Tuesday, September 15th, from 4-7pm at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill and Saturday, September 19th, from 2-5pm at the Durham Station Transportation Center (515 West Pettigrew Street). These sessions provide a chance to learn more about this project but are not necessary to go to before attending a public hearing or providing a comment.

The public hearings will be held Tuesday, September 29th, from 4-7pm at the FridayCenter in Chapel Hill and Thursday, October 1st, from 4-7pm at the Durham County Commissioners Chambers (200 East Main Street, 2nd Floor).  There will be opportunities to speak at this forum.

You may comment either by US mail (D-O LRT Project DEIS, C/O GoTriangle, PO Box 530, Morrisville, NC 27560) or via email at info@ourtransitfuture.com.  All comments are due by October 13, 2015.  Your comments may be brief. We recommend that you not copy and paste the talking points outlined below but instead offer comments in your own words as that will have greater value.  Please remember to be respectful when you interact with GoTriangle staff and public officials.

Helpful Talking Points:

• It interferes with future development plans on land gifted to the Jewish Federation (which the JCC is a part of) for expansion.

• It involves relocation of the Western Bypass, bringing the road closer to the JCC. This creates safety and security concerns.

• It will create more traffic.

If you have questions about this issue or would like to discuss it with someone, please contact Jill Madsen at jmadsen@shalomdch.org.