Item:
Title
Suspend the Rules to Authorize the Board to Approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC029 and Capital Project Amendment No. 26CPA009 and TIP Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor, Spending $1,151,445, with a Net County Expenditure of $223,000 and Recognition of State Grants of $928,445 (5min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: November 3, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to suspend the rules and approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC029 and Capital Project Amendment No. 26CPA009 sending $1,151,445 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail corridor. The majority of the cost - $928,445 - will be reimbursed to the county through two State Grants, and the remaining $223,000 will be covered through a $123,000 General Fund fund balance appropriation and a $100,000 transfer of PAYGO funding to the General Fund currently budgeted in the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001 - reducing remaining available to $0).
|
Project Name and Number |
Current Budget |
Increase / Decrease |
Updated Budget |
|
Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail (4590DC001) |
$133,334.00 |
($100,000.00) |
$33,334.00 |
|
TOTAL |
$133,334.00 |
($100,000.00) |
$33,334.00 |
This item also requests that the Board approve a TIP Agreement for Project Cost Participation with the NC Department of Transportation in the amount of $1,151,445. In a separate agenda item on the November 3 agenda, the Board was asked to approve a Great Trails State Program Grant Agreement with the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for $500,000 with revenue recognized in this budget amendment. In addition, the Board is asked to recognize $428,445 of revenue from the East Coast Greenway Alliance for a NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Complete the Trails Program Grant.
The Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail would convert a 26-mile inactive rail corridor into a multi-use trail. The Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail has been identified in multiple local and regional plans since the 1980s as a high-priority project for improving transportation options and access to green space. The Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail is envisioned as a lasting community asset. It would offer a safe, accessible space for walking, running, and biking, for people of all ages and abilities. In addition to recreation, the trail would also serve as a new transportation option, linking neighborhoods, parks, schools, and other destinations while strengthening connections across Durham County and beyond. A presentation of the Rail Trail Planning Study was provided at the October 6, 2025, work session.
Although the rail line has been inactive for many years, it is still fully owned by Norfolk Southern. The Conservation Fund has facilitated the sale of the corridor to the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to occur in late 2025. Durham County’s contribution towards NCDOT’s ownership of the property will ensure that the land is transferred from private to public ownership and preserved for future transportation purposes. NCDOT would own the corridor as part of its Rail Corridor Preservation program, which would make it available for future public use including for development as a multi-use trail.
Transportation requests that the Board of Commissioners suspend the rules to ensure that this agreement is fully executed and payment is transmitted before the scheduled closing on November 19.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This agenda item aligns with the Durham County Strategic Plan Goal Regional Leadership.
Resource Persons: Ellen Beckmann, AICP, Transportation Director; Brooke Roper, Transportation Planner
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board suspend the rules and approve Budget Ordinance No. 26BCC029 and Capital Project Amendment No. 26CPA009 sending $1,151,445 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the acquisition of the Roxboro-to-Durham Rail Trail corridor. The Board’s approval will be subject to Legal’s review and approval of the contract. The majority of the cost - $928,445 - will be reimbursed to the county through two State Grants, and the remaining $223,000 will be covered through a $123,000 General Fund fund balance appropriation and a $100,000 transfer of PAYGO funding to the General Fund currently budgeted in the Roxboro-to-Durham Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001). This item also requests that the Board approve a TIP Agreement for Project Cost Participation with the NC Department of Transportation in the amount of $1,151,445. The Board is asked to recognize $428,445 of revenue from the East Coast Greenway Alliance for a NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Complete the Trails Program Grant and $500,000 of revenue for an NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Great Trails State grant.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________