Ken Larsen's website - Minneapolis Light Rail vs proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail (DOLRT)
Minneapolis has a well designed and efficient light rail system. It contrasts sharply with the proposed Durham-Orange County light rail system (DOLRT) which has many shortcomings. Here are the differences:
| Category | Minneapolis's blue line [map] | DOLRT [map] |
| Route |
Goes to: Target Field (home of Minnesota Twins) U.S. Bank Stadium (home of Minnesota Vokings) Downtown Minneapolis Airport Mall of American The blue line runs along highway 55 (aka Hiawatha Avenue). It is a semi-separated urban freeway. A connecting green line goes to St. Paul. There is heavy density all along the blue line. |
Does not go to the airport Does not go to the Southpoint Mall Does not go to Research Triangle Park (RTP) Does not go to Raleigh Does not go to Carrboro Does not go to Chatham Park Does not run along 15-501 or Interstate 40 |
| At-grade crossings |
Over 40. Most notable is the one on Farrington Road in
southwest Durham. Each at-grade crossing will halt car traffic 150 times each day. |
|
| Funding | Cost was $ 715.3 million with $ 334.3 million coming from the Federal government. |
When originally designed, the Federal government was
expected to provide 50% and NC state was expected to
provide 25%. NC state has reduced its
contribution to below 10%, and the Federal government will
likely reduce their share by a significant amount. To bridge just the NC state funding shortfall, money will have to be borrowed. That debt won't be paid off until the year 2062. |
| Population |
Minneapolis= 413,651 (2016) St. Paul= 302,398 (2016) Both are on the Mississippi River, so they have ample water to support growth. |
Durham= 263,016 (2016) Chapel Hill= 59,246 (2016) A drought in 2007-2008 forced water rationing. Growth will be constrained by the lack of water. |
| Traffic | Traffic problems were not mitigated by light rail [details] | At-grade crossings will exascerbate car traffic. |
| Environment | The environment was not improved by light rail [details] | The aforementioned at-grade crossings will adversely affect the environment. |