DURHAM - Plans for a light-rail line between Chapel Hill and Durham got unanimous approval last week from a bi-county transportation committee.

Wednesday's vote for a "Locally Preferred Alternative" route keeps the project on schedule to apply for a federal grant this year. It also moves the project along to another round of public hearings, on environmental effects, this spring.

The approved route runs from UNC Hospitals to downtown Durham and includes both alternatives for a segment between the Friday Center on N.C. 54 and a proposed development site on Farrington Road in Durham.

C1, favored by the planners: Through the Meadowmont community and across a pristine section of the Little Creek bottomlands, a "Significant Natural Heritage Area"

C2, favored by most residents who have expressed opinions: Within the existing N.C. 54 corridor to the proposed Hillmont subdivision, then north along George King Road.

Transit planners say transit-oriented Meadowmont would produce high ridership, while Hillmont remains to be designed and might turn out less transit-friendly. C1 requires fewer land acquisitions.

C2 supporters say the Meadowmont route splits an existing neighborhood and compromises an unspoiled natural area and that Triangle Transit's own analysis shows C2 to be the cheaper route: $182 million, versus $212 million for C1.

Orange commissioners discussed route options until late Tuesday before agreeing to send C1 and C2 forward for environmental research.