Politics
North Carolina Senate Bill 289 Directs Transit Funds to Durham Bus Routes, Highway Projects Receive None
Durham residents who ride GoTriangle buses gain access to new state matching dollars while drivers on planned county road widenings see no added support.
How we reported this
The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 289 on July 7, sending $4.8 million in matching grants to Durham County for expanded bus service on existing GoTriangle routes while excluding any new allocations for highway construction in the same jurisdiction.
Why the measure reached the floor now
State transportation revenue collections fell short of projections in the fiscal year that ended June 30, prompting lawmakers to redirect discretionary funds toward operating costs rather than capital projects. The legislation states that only transit agencies with current service contracts qualify for the match, a rule that covers Durham but leaves several road-widening proposals without state support.
Daily travel patterns in Durham show the split in effect. Riders boarding at the Durham Station on Chapel Hill Street will see added evening trips to Research Triangle Park, shortening waits for workers on second shifts. Residents who commute by car from northern Durham County subdivisions to Interstate 85 will continue using the same lanes, as none of the bill's dollars apply to pavement or interchange work.
Local advocates note that the average Durham household spends 22 minutes each way on public transit to reach major employers, according to the most recent county travel survey. The new funds are projected to add 12,000 annual service hours on three routes that serve those trips. Drivers on U.S. 70 and N.C. 54 corridors receive no comparable relief from congestion under the same measure.
The bill text lists Durham County as one of five jurisdictions eligible for the transit match. County budget documents show that GoTriangle currently operates 47 buses on weekdays within the city limits; the added dollars will support eight new vehicles and extended weekend hours starting in January 2027.
County commissioners must approve a local match of $1.2 million by September 15 to receive the full state amount. If approved, the first new buses are scheduled to enter service on the RTP express line by March 2027. No further legislative action on highway funding for Durham appears on the current session calendar.