Transit

Wake Transit Plan to be Reviewed by Town Councils

Logan Mintz — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:18:25 -0600

Wake County has released a draft plan for improving and expanding bus and rail service in Wake County. Wake County Commissioners now want each Wake city and town council to review the proposed Wake Transit Plan and obtain their approval for moving forward with a transit funding referendum. David Cooke, Wake County Manager, and David King, General Manager of Triangle Transit, recently presented the plan at a Capital Area Friends of Transit event. View the presentation here. You can also view a summary and maps of the plan on WakeUP's Land Use and Transportation tab. For a more comprehensive look, check out the whole plan on Wake County's website. The first town council briefing is for the town of Garner, 7:30pm on December 15th.

Transit 'core' Op-ed in News & Observer

Logan Mintz — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:01:44 -0600

There's a good case to be made for what could be called the all-the-way approach to mass transit improvements in the Triangle - load on the works, with expanded bus service plus commuter trains and light rail.

But it also can be argued that undertaking all of those transit upgrades at once would be too ambitious. Wake County Manager David Cooke's latest strategy reflects a sense that it would be better to stretch things out - better financially and better politically. He could be on the right track.

Speaking of tracks: It's the rail component of the overall improvement plan that causes heartburn here and there, especially among some of our local conservatives. But Cooke makes a distinction between commuter rail service that could be up and running fairly quickly, using existing N.C. Railroad tracks through the heart of the Triangle, and light rail between Cary and north Raleigh, which would be a new animal.

Vote YES on Transportation and Housing Bond Referendums!

Logan Mintz — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:13:38 -0500

Raleigh residents can vote October 11 on a pedestrian/transit/bicycle focused transportation bond AND an affordable housing bond! WakeUP Wake County and many other local organizations have endorsed the bonds. Remember, if you can't vote on Election Day (Oct. 11), you can vote absentee or early NOW!

$40M Transportation Improvements Bond is multi-modal (i.e. not just about cars). It will:
· Fix potholes and resurface roads
· Build new sidewalks and repair damaged sidewalks
· Extend the Greenway system and add bike lines
· Widen roads, help with corridor planning and streetscape programs
· Improve transit including Moore Square, bus shelters & benches
· Implement improvements on Union Station (leverages $20M + federal funds)

Durham-Orange moves forward with regional transit

Andrew Campbell — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:32:58 -0500

Officials in Durham and Orange Counties have offered their support for a regional transit plan that will encompass bus improvements and the eventual light rail and commuter rail projects. This is an exciting time for Durham and Orange, with a potential referendum on a half-cent sales tax to fund a portion of the project possibly set for this Fall, 2011.

DURHAM -- Officials of Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro unanimously endorsed this morning a plan for transit improvements and a fall referendum on a sales tax to help pay for it.

"This will mean a huge increase in the public transit services we are able to provide," said Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton. "A huge new reach deep into our county."

The plan calls for additional bus service in and between the three cities along with a light-rail line between UNC Hospitals and East Durham.

Raleigh-Durham, biggest gas-guzzling metro in the nation

Andrew Campbell — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:12:03 -0500

The Triangle region has recently received a number "quality of life" awards and remains a desirable region for newcomers for the time being. However, the realities of unplanned growth are beginning to emerge. Forbes Magazine recently ranked Raleigh-Durham as THE biggest gas-guzzler in the nation! Raleigh-Durham residents drive and consume more gas than Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, and other cities typically associated with heavy automobile use.

Award for WakeUP's transit efforts

Andrew Campbell — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:25:16 -0500

Executive Director of WakeUP Wake County received the Women in Transportation (WTS) Triangle Chapter 2011 Woman of the Year Award:

SpeakUP for Wake County's future!

Andrew Campbell — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:09:33 -0500

North Carolina's share of federally approved high-speed rail funding is in danger! Members of the NC General Assembly have attempted to place the brakes on federally funded passenger rail projects in NC by introducing a bill (H422, sponsored by Rep. Killian and Frye) that will stall high-speed rail by requiring all federal investments in our state to go through an extensive legislative approval process. NC risks losing over $500 million for high speed rail!

Please speakUP TODAY and let Triangle legislators know that high-speed rail is critical to the Triangle communities, for our state's mobility, for future economic investment, and for job growth across our state.

Transit referendum delayed

Andrew Campbell — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:18:50 -0600

Wake County Commissioners have decided to delay a voter referendum planned this fall for a half-cent sales tax that would fund new transit - light rail, commuter rail, and bus improvements throughout Wake County.

NCDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Survey - please fill out!

Andrew Campbell — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:51:38 -0600

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wants to hear from you. How safe do you feel riding your bike or walking in your neighborhood? The NCDOT recently released a survey that seeks to evaluate the need for bike lanes, sidewalks, public education and more. Fill out the 2011 NCDOT Statewide Public Input Questionnaire on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety below:

http://www.itre.ncsu.edu/Public/Bike-Ped-NCDOT-Survey.html

Raleigh/Cary 5th LONGEST commute in the nation!

Andrew Campbell — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:58:49 -0500

The Triangle Region continues to grow and, as of July 2010, Wake County is the LARGEST COUNTY in North and South Carolina! As growth continues to reshape our region and transportation needs, we must work to improve regional transit services!

Driven Apart, a recent transportation report, ranks how long residents in the nation's largest 51 metropolitan areas spend in peak hour traffic. Raleigh/Cary ranks 5th on the list of cities with the LONGEST COMMUTES. According to the report, Triangle residents spend more time traveling to work each day than regional commuters in most other major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Read the full report here.