Item:
Title
Authorize the Board to Approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No.27BCC010 and Capital Project Amendment No.27CPA009 Reducing the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001) by $100,000.66, Allocating up to $406,944.34 of Budgeted PAYGO Funding and transferring these Funds ($506,945) to the General Fund Transportation Operating Budget to Support Payment to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the Acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor; the Board is also Requested to Approve a TIP Agreement Amendment with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor, Spending up to $1,658,390, with a Net County Expenditure of up to $1,013,077, and Recognition of State Grants of at least $645,313 and up to $855,313
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: August 10, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC010 and Capital Project Ordinance Amendment No. 27CPA009 reducing the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001) by $100,000.66, allocating up to $406,944.34 of budgeted PAYGO funding and transferring these funds ($506,945) to the General Fund Transportation Operating budget to support a payment to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor. The Board is also requested to approve a TIP Agreement Amendment for Project Cost Participation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a total amount of up to $1,658,390, an increase of $506,945 from the original agreement of $1,151,445. After anticipated State Grant reimbursements, Durham County’s total contribution has increased to a maximum $1,013,077. Per prior Board of Commissioner approval (November 3, 2025), a $1,151,445 payment was made to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor.
|
Durham County Capital Projects |
Reallocated Funding |
Add'l Funding |
Year-One Budget |
|
Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail (4590DC001) |
$ 133,334.00 |
($100,000.66) |
$ 33,333.34 |
NCDOT’s total cost is now approximately $16 million, an increase of $2.6 million. The cost increase is due to the identification of approximately 60 additional acres of land, an updated appraisal, and additional closing costs. NCDOT is funding the cost increase through an additional $2,000,000 of federal grants, bringing the federal total up to $12,750,000 or 80 percent, and proportionate increases in the local government contributions. In addition, a grant from East Coast Greenway Alliance to the County that was initially approved by the Board of Commissioners (November 3, 2025) for $428,445 is being reduced to $145,313 (at minimum but potentially could be $355,313 to the County) due to East Coast Greenway Alliance needing to cover additional costs incurred by the Conservation Fund, reducing available funds for the grant to the participating governments.
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. Durham County adopted the Rail Trail Planning Study in November 2025.
Although the rail line has been inactive for many years, it is still fully owned by Norfolk Southern. While acquisition was delayed from the original schedule of late 2025, NCDOT now anticipates closing in fall 2026. 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.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This agenda item aligns with the Durham County Strategic Plan Goal Regional Leadership
Resource Persons: Ellen Beckmann, Transportation Director; Brooke Roper, Transportation Planner
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 27BCC010 and Capital Project Ordinance Amendment No. 27CPA009 reducing the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Capital Project (4590DC001) by $100,000.66, allocating up to $406,944.34 of budgeted PAYGO funding and transferring these funds ($506,945) to the General Fund Transportation Operating budget to support a payment to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the acquisition of the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor. The Board is also requested to approve a TIP Agreement Amendment for Project Cost Participation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a total amount of up to $1,658,390, an increase of $506,945 from the original agreement of $1,151,445. After anticipated State Grant reimbursements, Durham County’s total contribution is for up to $1,013,077.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________