Land Use

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.

SpeakUP - Oppose SB 183, the "Billboard Bill"

Andrew Campbell — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:01:47 -0500

What is SB 183 and why are citizens are against the bill?

Senate Bill 183 intends to relax billboard regulations along NC highways, meaning digital and tri-vision billboards every 1,500 feet.

The bill would override LOCAL sign regulations and tree cutting ordinances on state/federal roads. And...
Allows a billboard to be placed every 1,500 feet, on both sides, of any interstate or primary highway
Provides for billboard owners to ignore local tree maintenance ordinances
Increases the clear-cut area around a billboard installation by 60%.
Allows billboards already in violation of local law to be converted to blinking digital signs

More information is available at www.stopsb183.com

RTP makeover in progress

Andrew Campbell — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:41:12 -0500

The Research Triangle Foundation will update RTP's master plan, the first major land planning review effort since the park was established in 1959. The 7,000-acre research center was shaped by sprawling, single-use development requirements that intended to make the park more competitive at a time when companies were relocating from urban areas to suburban office parks. However, over the past 50+ years, the apetite of major employers in RTP has changed and companies can now choose to relocate to new commercial space in Downtown Raleigh or Durham. With one of the highest vacancy rates in the Triangle, RTP is searching for a solution.

Controversy Grows Surrounding the Future Route of High Speed Rail

Andrew Campbell — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:04:18 -0500

CLICK HERE to READ WakeUP's Comments

SEHSR is a proposed high speed rail project with future service to Raleigh. High speed rail has the potential to connect Wake residents much more quickly than existing rail service to Charlotte and Richmond, VA. Concerns surrounding the Richmond to Raleigh portion of the route have recently developed. Decisions on route location through key areas of Wake County must be made.

Downtown Raleigh Route Options:

Alternative 1, Alternative 2, Alternative 3

WakeUP Signs Amicus Brief on Riparian Buffer Regulations

Caitlin Burke — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:46:33 -0500

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed an amicus brief on Monday September 21, 2009, in favor of towns having the authority to enact stream buffer regulations that are more stringent than state or federal regulations. WakeUP Wake County signed on to the brief along with the Haw Riverkeeper Foundation, Catawba Riverkeeper Association, North Carolina Conservation Network, and others. While the case relates to a specific development in Cary, the Court's decision will have broad implications for municipal stream buffer regulations in North Carolina.

Raleigh City Council Approves Vision for Growth

Caitlin Burke — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:34:32 -0500

The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday September 8, 2009 to adopt the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a long-term planning document that will guide development in Raleigh over the next 20 years. The Plan will go into effect on November 1, 2009.

Transit or Traffic?

Greg Flynn — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:40:09 -0500

Urge your State Senator and Senate Finance Committee Chairs and Members to support the Transit Bill aka the "Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund" Senate Bill 151 / House Bill 148. Otherwise, enjoy the traffic: Help Dan, Save Traffic

Triangle Reality Check 2009

Caitlin Burke — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:50:21 -0600

On February 24, 2009, a group of 300 political, business, environmental, and civic leaders came together to create a vision for growth in the Triangle Region for the next 25 years. The challenge: where will the additional 1.2 million people and thousands of new jobs go? Working in small groups with string, legos, and a map, workshop participants discussed issues, balanced needs, and developed scenarios that would ensure our region grows well and remains competitive in the coming decades. Participants created 3-D models of where housing and jobs should be located, laid out plans for transit systems and new roads, and indicated where to protect open space and water resources. The major themes that emerged from the visioning effort were 1) Providing a regional transit system, 2) Creating mixed-use development, 3) Protecting drinking water and open space, and 4) Reinvesting in our urban areas. Reality Check sees regional cooperation as critical for building consensus around growth issues and ensuring a long-range vision that accounts for the diverse values and interests of our community.

CAMPO Releases Transit Map

Greg Flynn — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:11:41 -0600

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), a group of local mayors and county commissioners, are currently reviewing long-range plans for transportation in Wake County and beyond. On Wednesday, CAMPO met to review plans for transportation and transit through 2035. CAMPO released a new transit map, that proposes light rail all the way from Apex to Cary, Raleigh and Wake Forest -- and commuter rail to Garner and Clayton. Bus service will be greatly expanded too. Of course, several things must happen BEFORE this transit system will be implemented. CAMPO must approve this plan (possibly Feb. 21), legislation must pass the NC General Assembly, and the voters must pass a referendum for funding. Go to CAMPO to comment on the 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan.

STAC Regional Transit Vision Plan

Greg Flynn — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:32:35 -0500

The Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC) has developed a Regional Transit Vision Plan for the Triangle to provide a framework for future investments. The recommendations reflect the complexity of our region, which requires multi-pronged, multi-modal strategies to building a complete transportation system. The plan, released May 29th, recommends a high-quality, regional transit system to serve North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region by promoting closer connections between our land use and transportation patterns and providing more travel choices for our growing population. Three major categories of investments are recommended: