Comments on: North Carolina Opens Up to Local-Option Sales Taxes

By: Boone Homes

Boone Homes — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:55:43 +0000

Has anyone heard anything more about connecting the triangle to Wilmington via rail. There are signs alover I 40 hinting about a train / ferry system. The ferries exist…but where are the passenger trains?

By: Ward in North Carolina

Ward in North Carolina — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:47:56 +0000

Interesting. I would absolutely love to see this implemented for both mine and my son’s sake. We both currently live and work in around the NC State area. Does anyone have a projected timeline for when we might at least be able to see some progress here? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:33:11 +0000

I don’t disagree that connecting Durham to RTP is necessary, nor that it is not beneficial. I am saying that based on the politics and the need for federal funding of some of these line segments, you would be inclined to put the strongest pieces forward first.

The Durham to RTP piece is the weakest piece as a standalone project. If you add it to an already successful Durham-Chapel Hill line or Raleigh-RTP line, it will be fine.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:10:39 +0000

No I don't think it's a formal agreement, I'm just saying that if this comes to pass I think there will be agreement that this will be the line built. Here's the plan that Triangle Transit came up with, LINK (large file) And here's what Raleigh itself envisions in its new comprehensive plan within its borders, LINK I don't think Raleigh will want to end the line at the Wake County line. A lot of people live in Durham and work at NC State or downtown for the state. Also given that Durham probably has more high traffic destinations at this point compared to Raleigh (e.g. Durham Bulls, Duke Medical Center, a better nightlife scene), I don't see how you can leave it out. I don't think it makes much sense to end the line at RTP or RDU. Durham is too big a part of the region.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:45:27 +0000

Adam,

I don’t think the agreement you discuss above exists. Right now which segment goes first in the Triangle is very much up for discussion. The Durham to RTP segment, which has very little residential east of the Alston Ave neighborhood, none to speak of in RTP, and spread out suburban employment with no defined center, is easily the weakest ridership segment in the Triangle on the mainline.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:55:50 +0000

I’m excited about this too. But I’m still worried about the state senate, the more conservative of the two bodies. I’m pretty sure Bev Perdue would sign it if it came to her desk.

Although there definitely could be some inter-urban squabbling, I don’t think it will be too much of a problem. This is because I think there will be broad agreement that the first priority will be to construct a line from at least Durham in the west, through RTP, NCSU, and downtown Raleigh in the east. The dispute will likely either be within Wake county, or between Wake County and Johnston County in terms of, after the line goes to downtown Raleigh, should it then go north along Capital Blvd into North Raleigh, or southeast through Garner and into Johnston County.

There also could be some dispute as to whether the second priority should be extending the Raleigh line north or southeast, or if the second line should be from Durham down to Chapel Hill.

But I think the first line is agreed upon. Downtown Durham to downtown Raleigh through RTP and NCSU.

Thanks for the write-up!