People on both sides discuss Durham-Orange light rail during meeting
HIS MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS ON
OUR HOMEPAGE.>>> THE LIBRARY
PROJECT BACK UP FOR TONIGHT --
UP FOR DEBATE TONIGHT CASEY
CUNNINGHAM IS LIGHT AND DURUM.
BIG TURNOUT TONIGHT.
>> A BIG TURNOUT AND I AM
KEEPING MY VOICE LOW BECAUSE
THIS IS STILL GOING ON.
LET ME GIVE YOU A PEEK AT
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE TRIANGLE
REPRESENTATIVES ANSWERING
QUESTIONS AND TALKING TO FOLKS
BUT WE WILL COME DOWN HERE
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE
DISRUPTIVE OF THE FOLKS STILL
LISTENING IN.
LET'S GO TO THE VIDEO NOW SO I
CAN SHOW HOW PACKED THIS
MEETING WAS TONIGHT.
THOSE PEOPLE YOU SEE IN RED ARE
OPPOSED TO THE LIGHT RAIL.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS IS SUPPOSED
TO AID -- TO APPROVE THE LIGHT
RAIL TO RUN FROM UNC HOSPITAL
ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO DURUM.
IT IS A 17 MILE LIGHT RAIL THAT
WOULD MAKE 26,000 TRIPS PER
DAY.
HERE IS THE SPLIT.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY IT WILL CUT
DOWN ON TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND
CONNECTS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
TO HEALTHCARE AND JOBS AND
BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.
THOSE OPPOSED ARE CONCERNED
MOSTLY ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND
TRANSPARENCY WITH GO TRIANGLE
WHO IS WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN MUCH
COMMUNICATION.
THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED THIS
WILL IMPACT STUDENTS I GO TO
CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY.
THAT IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
NEAR THIS DISPOSED LIGHT RAIL
LINE.
SO THE PARENTS ARE SAYING OUR
STUDENTS GO HERE, IT'S GOING TO
BE NOISY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
FOR STUDENTS.
THEY ALSO SAY GO TRIANGLE
PICKED THE WRONG SITE.
IT IS REPORTED THIS ROUTE IS
GOING TO CLOSE MAJOR DOWNTOWN
STREET AND BLOCK BUSINESSES.
HERE IS A LITTLE SOUND FROM
BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
>> A LIGHT RAIL PROJECT
PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A
MEANINGFUL TRANSIT DESIGN THAT
WILL BE ANCHORED BY PERMANENT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MIXED
INCOME AND MIXED USE COMMUNITY
THAT WILL ENHANCE THE RICHNESS
OF DURUM.
>> THE ISSUE IS ONE IS GOING TO
BE IMPACTED.
WE ARE ASKING WITH AN OPEN I
AND A FRESHMAN AT THE REALITIES
OF WHO IS BEING IMPACTED BY
THIS.
AGING THEORY IS AGING SENIORS
AND SCHOOLCHILDREN.
>> AGAIN, THIS MEETING IS STILL
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
GO TRIANGLE REPRESENTATIVES ARE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THE
COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON
THIS ZONING CHANGE.
I AM TOLD FROM A SECURITY GUARD
HERE THAT ABOUT 20 PEOPLE ARE
IN FAVOR OF THE LIGHT RAIL.
ABOUT 50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK IN OPPOSITION ON THE
LIGHT RAIL.
DEFINITELY A STRONGER
OPPOSITION HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS STILL GOING ON.
THERE IS TALK AT THE ZONING
APPROVAL REQUEST DOES NOT GO
THROUGH THAT THIS IS GOING TO
SCRAP THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
WE ARE GOING TO STAY ON THIS
AND BE HERE TO BRING YOU MORE