Around The State: Duke U Threatens Light Rail Plan

A light rail project supported by public officials, disadvantaged communities, and voters in both Durham and Orange counties is imminently endangered by opposition from one wealthy private institution: Duke University.

With plan submission deadlines looming, Duke University President Vincent Price said that Duke would not permit rail construction across its property, a reversal of Duke’s historic support of the project. Orange County Commissioner Mark Marcoplos said that project supporters felt betrayed by the Duke reversal.

“We were kind of stunned that Duke claimed we waited until the last minute and we didn’t address their concerns, when, in fact, it’s documented that almost all of their concerns had been met, and in fact, they had people in their organization who would agree that they had been met,” Marcoplos said, referring to Duke’s late-breaking statements of concern about construction vibrations and electronic interference.

Prior to the deadline, groups representing historically disadvantaged communities in Durham restated their support for the project which could bring enormous economic development benefits to their communities. Leaders of North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical Community College, and the Durham Housing Authority all said last week that the Orange-Durham Light Rail Transit project would bring greater prosperity to the Fayetteville Street corridor.

Other elected officials also voiced their dismay with the Duke reversal of support. Duke Mayor Steve Schewel called it “a body blow to light rail and to our community.”

Environmental advocates blasted Duke’s flip as a threat to clean air and future quality of life in the Triangle region.

Durham light rail supporters publicly proposed the city using its eminent domain authority to take the portions of Duke’s land needed for this vital transportation project. Regional transit authority leaders announced that they would evaluate options to continue to work to construct the project.

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