County Transit Plans

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In 2017, Durham and Orange counties adopted Transit Plans. These Plans updated the Bus & Rail Investment Plans that were voter approved in 2011 and 2012 in Durham and Orange Counties, respectively. Updated Transit Plans can be found in the "Transit Plans" section below.

Transit plans are managed through an agreement signed by each county, DCHC MPO, and GoTriangle. Each plan is administered through a Staff Working Group made up of a voting staff member from each signer of the agreement.

The Durham County Staff Working Group voting members, as appointed by the General Manager of each agency, are:

Durham County - Ellen Beckmann (Vice-Chair), Ryan Eldridge is the alternate
DCHC MPO - Doug Plachcinski (Chair), Colleen McGue is the alternate
GoTriangle - Jay Heikes, Meg Scully is the alternate
City of Durham - Jenny Green, Eric Simpson is the alternate

The Orange County Staff Working Group voting members, as appointed by the General Manager of each agency, are:

Orange County - Nishith Trivedi (Vice Chair), Travis Myren is the alternate
DCHC MPO - Doug Plachcinski (Chair), Colleen McGue is the alternate
GoTriangle - Jay Heikes, Meg Scully is the alternate

Where does the transit tax go?

Transit Plan Goals and Funding

The plans address the need for enhanced bus and rail to serve growth and provide access to jobs and education. Funding for the plans come from:

Half-Cent Sales and Use Tax
5% Vehicle Rental Tax
$3 increase to GoTriangle Regional Vehicle Registration Fee
$7 County Vehicle Registration Fee

Both plans support:

Improved local and regional bus service
Better bus stops and park and rides
Long-range planning for high-capacity transit, such as bus rapid transit (BRT) or commuter rail transit (CRT)

Both plans initially supported a light rail transit system to connect Durham and Orange counties. In April 2019, Durham and Orange counties discontinued planning for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project due to funding difficulties and an inability to reach final agreements with Duke University and the North Carolina Railroad.

History of North Carolina Transit Funding

In August 2009, House Bill 148 became law, allowing counties in North Carolina to hold referenda to fund transit projects with voter-approved sales tax. Orange and Durham counties subsequently developed county-wide transit plans and held successful referenda to impose a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transit. The original county transit plans were called Bus and Rail Investment Plans (BRIPs).

Durham County Plan
The DCHC MPO Board approved the Durham County Bus and Rail Investment Plan on June 22, 2011. On June 27, 2011, the Durham Board of County Commissioners adopted the plan and called for a referendum on a one-half cent sales tax for public transportation. Durham County Voters passed the referendum for a one-half cent sales tax on November 8, 2011.

Orange County Plan
On October 2, 2012, the Orange Board of County Commissioners adopted the Bus and Rail Investment Plan and called for a referendum on a half-cent sales tax for public transportation. The DCHC MPO Board approved the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan on October 10, 2012. Orange County voters approved the referendum for a one-half cent sales tax on November 6, 2012.

Transit Plans

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