Background and Updates on Purchase
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SPECIAL NEWS ITEM: In late June 2005 we learned from NCDOT that Norfolk Southern took the 501 Corridor off the market. The short "Beltline" (downtown) section of the corridor is still on the market. We'll post any further updates to this situation as soon as we can learn anything.
Background: NCDOT agreed to pick up 50% of the purchase cost (of both the Beltline and the Durham-Timberlake corridors). Both Durham County & City needed to fund the other 50% of the purchase. On May 23, 2005, the County of Durham approved an earmark of $1,500,000 for their share of the purchase in its long-range CIP (Capitol Improvement Plan). The City of Durham approved its CIP on June 20, 2005. It earmarked $1,500,000 in its CIP. This would be funded by the 2005 General Obligation Bond, to be approved by voters in a referendum in November 2005. To assist with the local match, the City of Durham requested federal funds. Congressman Price inserted an earmark for about $2M in the transportation bill. If purchased, both corridors could be used for interim trail use. Combined with the American Tobacco Trail & the North-South Greenway, the area would have a system that is over 40 miles long. What's more, this system could become a portion of the East Cost Greenway! They could also eventually provide the rail corridor needed for an extension of the planned TTA Regional Rail system. A 'rail with trail,' successful in other parts of the country could be easily established on this corridor.
Updates:
On May 23, 2005, the County of Durham approved an earmark of $1,500,000 for their share of the purchase.
The City of Durham approved its CIP on June 20, 2005. It has earmarked $1,500,000 in its CIP. This would be funded by the 2005 General Obligation Bond, to be approved by voters in a referendum in November 2005. On June 6th the City held a public hearing about the Capital Improvement Plan & Bond referendum package in front of City Council. This was a great opportunity to tell the City Council directly about how important it is to purchase the Timberlake corridor soon. Dan Clever and Bill Bussey of TRTC spoke on behalf of buying and developing the corridor.
The Senate version of the transportation bill came out higher than the House version, so these differences will have to be ironed out in conference committee. The President has threatened to veto a bill that exceeds the House version. Please contact the Senators and Representatives in the flyer to express your support of this earmark. If differences cannot be ironed out by this summer, the bill will lapse and will have to be restarted next year. This is what happened last year. To our knowledge, the negotiations are continuing. Please contact the names on the flyer to express your support of this purchase and railbanking of the corridor!
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