to advance the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) $71.1 million dollars for the Regional Rail Project. The board's action will allow TTA to maintain its timetable for the planned rail transit system.

"The board's vote to advance the funds reaffirms North Carolina's confidence in public transit," said TTA General Manager John Claflin. "The state's financial support will allow us to keep our construction schedule on a rail service which will provide an option to the congestion and air quality problems we have." Claflin said he's hopeful "this will be a positive signal to Washington as we continue to work on an agreement with the federal government for its share of the rail project's costs."

The advance of the $71.1 million is contingent upon a review by the North Carolina Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the project's inclusion in the President's FY05 budget. TTA expects a decision from the FTA on the rail project's status in the FY05 budget early next year.

The cost of the 35-mile Regional Rail Project between Durham, the Research Triangle Park, Cary and Raleigh is $813 million dollars. North Carolina's $71.1 million dollars is a portion of the state's share of 25 per-cent of the project's total cost, the federal government's share is one-half, TTA revenue will make up the remaining 25 per-cent.   TTA expects to begin construction in 2004 and begin rail service in late 2007.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle. TTA plans to implement a 35 mile rail transit system with 16 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2007 or early 2008. For more information, visit www.ridetta.org or call (919) 549 9999.