If anything could sway me toward taking on the crushing debt of the Durham-Orange County Light Rail it would be the promise of getting some affordable housing in return. And sure enough, in its presentation about planning DOLRT stations, GoTriangle reps dangled that yarn ball before Town Council — including affordable housing in the mix […]
All posts tagged Light Rail
DOLRT’s Cost-Plus
Posted by Nancy Oates on February 20, 2017
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2017/02/20/dolrts-cost-plus/
In the Big Muddy
A friend looked over GoTriangle’s newest plan to pay for the ever-escalating cost of the Durham-Orange Light Rail and said Pete Seeger had it right: “We’re waist deep in the Big Muddy, and the big fool says to push on.” Seeger’s ballad tells the story of an Army captain leading his platoon to cross a […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 9, 2017
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2017/01/09/in-the-big-muddy/
Giving back
When it comes to charitable giving, I wish “deep pockets” meant “bottomless resources.” But in reality, people and organizations have a finite amount of money they make available to donate to nonprofits. Competition for those dollars is fierce, as you may have guessed by the number of solicitations you have received in the past several […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 19, 2016
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/12/19/giving-back/
Who does LRT railroad?
We saw on Nov. 8 the depth of the frustration of white working-class voters. Many feel left out of the nation’s economic recovery and are fed up with subsidizing the lifestyle of the upwardly mobile. What lessons did Orange County commissioners learn from the recent national election? We’ll see perhaps as early as Dec. 5, […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 21, 2016
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/11/21/who-does-lrt-railroad/
Who’ll ride the rails?
Imagine pitching a project to potential investors and not knowing what your project will cost or how it will benefit stakeholders. Kind of like those anxiety dreams where you arrive at an important meeting without your pants on. GoTriangle lived that mortification at the March 7 Town Council meeting when a council member asked how […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 21, 2016
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2016/03/21/wholl-ride-the-rails/
Beside the tracks
Here’s what “Many” has to say: Many years ago, when we lived in Boston, I remember what happened when the red line was put in through Cambridge/Somerville. At the time the corridor was filled with moderately priced rentals and housing for people that commuted into Boston by car or bus. The red line morphed those […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 13, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/11/13/beside-the-tracks/
Transit takes a curve
Bonnie Hauser, speaking for “Smart Transit for Orange County” (http://smarttransitfororange.wordpress.com/) provides a transit update. Just as the county is getting ready to start collecting its new half-cent transit tax, new questions are swirling about the plan and state and federal funding. It was predictable, and the politics are especially entertaining. First state lawmakers signaled their […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 29, 2013
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/03/29/transit-takes-a-curve/
Yesterday’s transit tomorrow
Smart Transit for Orange County writes: Smart Transit for Orange County is asking voters to vote “NO” (AGAINST) the transit tax so that a better plan can be developed. The diverse group of pro-transit leaders from the towns and the county who joined together to oppose the transit tax referendum said the tax increase would […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 29, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/10/29/yesterdays-transit-tomorrow/
Absentee voting
Viewers of American Idol know to call one number if they want to vote for one performer and another number to vote for another performer. Maybe Town Council has adopted a similar practice. Laurin Easthom left during a discussion of the Triangle Regional Transit Local Preferred Alternative issue. During a spate of late-night council meetings […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 26, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/01/26/absentee-voting/