Regional Transit

The Regional Transportation Alliance continues to work with our partners to advance the creation of a robust regional transit system. We support the ongoing efforts of Wake, Durham, and Orange counties to create the initial transit implementation plans in their respective counties, including the development and execution of a robust public engagement process.

Click here for the results of our annual transit polls.

Click here for a summer 2010 presentation to the RTA Leadership Team describing the process for advancing transit in the Triangle.

Public engagement on transit planning efforts, intercity rail planning efforts, and transit decisions

Our region has already experienced a number of recent successes in transit.  Today, various transportation partners are reviewing bus, circulator, rail, and station options to enhance transit in the Triangle.  Several current public outreach efforts -- and the focus of those studies -- are as listed below:

• Triangle Transit is reviewing several options for rail transit that may qualify for future federal funding requests.  This technical analysis effort is called “Alternatives Analysis” and is the initial focus of the Triangle Regional Transit Program initiative.  Click here for more background on this ongoing effort.
• The Capital Area MPO is reviewing options for expanding bus service in the eastern Triangle.  Winter 2010-11 will provide outreach opportunities for this effort.
   

In addition to the current meetings, see the table below for a more comprehensive look at the number of past, ongoing, and planned transit planning efforts – by a number of partners, with varying goals and different geographic focuses.

  ** Capital Area MPO for Raleigh-Cary and environs in eastern Triangle
  ** Durham-Chapel-Hill Carrboro MPO for those communities and environs in western Triangle

Regional transit polls by RTA and chamber partners

RTA and area chamber partners from Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, and Morrisville have helped to fund transit polls in each spring since 2009.  Click on the links below for the results of the polls:

• Spring 2012 poll:  news release, Orange results, Wake results
• Spring 2011 poll:  news release, regional snapshot, county results
• Spring 2010 poll:  news release, regional snapshot, county results
• Spring 2009 poll:  news release, regional snapshot, county results

Progression of Transit in the Research Triangle region

Transit has continued to evolve during the past several years in the Triangle.  While there have been a few setbacks in terms of the development of major rail investments, overall steady progress has been made.  Here is a brief, abbreviated  history of that progress:

•    1989 – Triangle Transit (TTA) formed by General Assembly
•    1995 – Early regional rail plan (35 miles, 16 stations, single track)
                       – Plan later expanded (35 miles, 16 stations, double track)
•    2002 – Chapel Hill Transit commences fare-free operation throughout its system
•    2003 – State Full-funding grant agreement signed with Triangle Transit for proposed rail system
•    2005 – Master developer agreement signed with Cherokee for development around future rail stations
•    2005 – Regional rail transit plan scaled back to 28 miles, 12 stations, double track
•    2005 – Cary Transit commences fixed-route transit service
•    2006 – Chapel Hill Transit commences GPS tracking of buses and digital stop information
•    2006 – Triangle Transit withdraws federal funding request for proposed regional rail plan
•    2007 – Regional MPOs review transit future via 29 member (plus 9 ex officio) Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC)
•    2008 – STAC calls for bus, circulators, 51 mile light rail / diesel multiple unit rail system, with ½¢ sales tax as funding mechanism
•    2008 – NC Railroad Company announces results of capital cost study for commuter rail in Triangle region
•    2009 – Capital Area Transit (Raleigh) commences R-line service in downtown Raleigh
•    2009 – MPO long range plans approved, including proposal for 51 miles of light rail from Chapel Hill to North Raleigh
•    2009 – Local empowerment legislation (H148) signed, authorizing county local option sales tax (referendum), county registration fee, regional registration fee increment, RTP property tax increment -- all for transit
•    2009-- State support for transit law signed (S1005), authorizing NCDOT to assist local areas on rail capital projects, with or without federal funding in place
•    2008-2010 – Additional express service to Wake Forest (2008), Zebulon/Wendell (2009) and Knightdale (2010) begins through a cooperative arrangement between the municipalities, Triangle Transit, and Capital Area Transit
•    2009-2010 – Wake, Durham, and Orange counties begin development of initial implementation plans for county elements of regional plan
•    2010 – North Carolina receives more than $500m in federal funding for high speed rail
•    2010 – Durham Area Transit Authority agrees to have Triangle Transit manage city bus system
•    2010 – Triangle Transit commences "Alternatives Analysis" review of possible major rail corridor investments
•    2010 – Capital Area MPO and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPOs commence development of transit elements of regional comprehensive transportation plans (CTPs)
•    2010 – NC Railroad Company announces results of ridership study for commuter rail in Triangle region
•    2010 – City of Raleigh and Capital Area MPO commence bus planning study
 

RTA transit education, outreach, and empowerment in cooperation with Member Chambers and Transit Partners

The RTA, Member Chambers, and the regional business community has continued to support the advancement of transit over the past decade. To sign up for the RTA Making Transit Simpler Action Team, please click here or send Lindsey an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Fill in your name, company, and email address in the body of the email.

2005                      San Diego (light rail/trolley, commuter rail)

2007/8                   Charlotte visits with member chambers

2008                      Regional transit overview map

2008-09                Special Transit Advisory Commission

2009                      Dallas (commuter, light rail, transit-ready)

2009                      Turnpike support, construction (express bus)

2009                      Local empowerment legislation

2009                      Mike Walden funding projections study

2009-10-11          RTA /Chamber transit polling

2010-11                RTA Transportation Breakfast – County Leaders Remarks

2010                      RTA Annual Meeting (interactive exercise)

2010-11                RTA action team meetings / “Making Transit Simpler”

2010-11                RTA outreach on transit

2010-11                I-40 Regional Partnership meetings / Focus on Bus on Shoulder Systems (BOSS)

2011                      RTA Leadership Briefing and Tour – Denver’s transit systems (commuter rail, light rail, transit circulator, multi-modal transit stations, multiple referenda)

2011                       RTA Solutions Forum – Regional Transit Improvements

2011                       Preparation for Referendum / Referenda

RTA supports the development of an enhanced transit system that will serve employees, businesses, and the broader community

In spring 2008, the Alliance announced its support for the recommendations of the Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC). We highlighted our commitment to a transit future with buses first, then circulators and rail, paid for by a 1/2-cent sales tax, and with a careful examination of governance. We also recognized that detailed studies need to be finalized to identify specific sub-regional options to consider in each county that interface well with each other.

In early 2009, the Alliance released its working recommendations for future transit plans which include:

• Support the multimodal transit vision of the Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC), which includes buses first, then circulators and rail
• Support the staged implementation of light rail transit throughout the entire 56-mile Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC)-recommended corridor (Chapel Hill to North Raleigh), pending the approval of a detailed implementation plan
• Compare and evaluate both commuter and light rail operation for the STAC corridor as well as other rail corridors under consideration by the MPOs and prioritize all potential rail investments
• Encourage inclusion in the regional plan of fast-growing nearby counties – especially Johnston, which is already the third most populous county in the Triangle area
• Consider advance investments in trackage, station, and bus connection elements in order to convey a sense of permanence and accelerate transit-oriented development (TOD).