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Durham staff outline BRT design phases and funding gap; council presses for clearer cost and timing data on electric buses
Summary
Transportation staff told the council the BRT/station design will be done in phases, with about $5.5 million currently available and a full preconstruction design estimate of roughly $15 million; council members asked detailed questions about when NPAs and design work are submitted and raised concerns about timing for electric-bus procurement and costs.
City transportation staff briefed the council on a phased design approach for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station and corridor improvements and discussed fleet changes as electric buses arrive.
Staff said the design package has been divided into components that align with available funds so the city can complete schematic design and be competitive for federal grant applications. Staff reported currently positioned funds cover early phases, with an estimated full preconstruction design cost of about $15 million; roughly $5.5 million is available now, leaving a funding gap the city expects to fill through county transit programs and federal grants. Staff said completing schematic design will strengthen applications for competitive federal funding.
On fleet electrification, staff cautioned that electric buses have higher upfront costs — roughly double capital cost compared with diesel buses, according to the record — but noted lower maintenance costs per mile and an ongoing infrastructure program to install higher-capacity charging equipment. Staff said procurement and deployment timelines for battery-electric buses are long (noting deliveries can take roughly 24 months from order), so planning must align with grant timing and charging infrastructure upgrades.
Councilmembers asked for a clear breakdown of what the city has already committed and what remains to be funded, whether county or GoTriangle partners could cover gaps, and for staff to report back with detailed costing and schedule information. Community riders and groups including Bike Durham urged the council to support the design work and grant pursuit, arguing corridor upgrades will improve reliability and rider experience.
No vote on project funding was taken; staff said they will continue to pursue county and federal funding and return with additional cost and schedule detail.
