Research Triangle Park, NC (November 14, 2016) – GoTriangle and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are currently evaluating a potential connection between the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit (D-O LRT) Project and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), which enrolls over eight thousand students.
As part of the process, GoTriangle seeks public input on the recently published Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA), which analyzes the impacts and benefits of providing light rail along South Alston Avenue to the newly-proposed station near NCCU.
“The Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project will enhance the collaborations that North Carolina Central University has with the community, as well as with our educational partners in Durham and Chapel Hill, specifically Durham Technical Community College, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The development of a regional transportation corridor will ultimately elevate the connectivity that exists between our institutions,” said Acting NCCU Chancellor and Provost Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye. In September, GoTriangle announced it would review the possibility of extending the light rail project to NCCU in response to feedback received from public comment in 2015. Studies suggest an NCCU station would be the most used stop in Durham, and would connect three of the region’s major universities by light rail, NCCU, Duke and UNC.
“With an extension to North Carolina Central University, the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project will create even better connections for Carolina students, faculty and staff with our neighboring institutions of Duke, NCCU and Durham Technical Community College. A robust public transit system is essential to meet the future transportation needs of our region, Carolina and UNC Health Care,” said UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt.
"The addition of a station at NCCU would directly link three outstanding universities and provide connections to one of the finest community colleges in the state,” said Duke University President Richard H. Broadhead. “The Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project could create many positive benefits for our community." The 30-day public comment period on the Supplemental EA is currently underway. The document is available on the D-O LRT Project website at ourtransitfuture.com. Hard copies are available at the Durham County Public Library Main Branch, the James Shepard Library at NCCU, and GoTriangle’s Administrative Offices. The information gathered during the comment period will be considered by GoTriangle and the FTA before concluding the environmental study for the proposed NCCU Station.
Comments on the Supplemental EA will be accepted now through December 7 by email at: info@ourtransitfuture.com
and by postal mail at:
GoTriangleATTN: NCCU Station Refinement/
P.O. Box 13787
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Contact: Mike Charbonneau, 919-485-7413, mcharbonneau@gotriangle.org