Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: City Government (Page 12 of 15)

Buses, Trains and Automobiles… All Aboard Raleigh’s Public Transport Network!

June 17, 2010 /

Imagine yourself living in North Raleigh a decade from now.  It’s early morning and you want to take the kids to Washington, so you park your car at the light rail station, jump on the light rail into Union Station in Downtown Raleigh, and board the high speed train, arriving in DC in time for lunch.

Traffic congestion could choke off city’s growthSeem like a fantasy?  It’s not.  City officials are working hard to share this vision with citizens, as they find their way through the maze of transportation options.  Mass transportation, including commuter rail between Raleigh, RTP, Cary, Chapel Hill, and the airport (among other regional destinations), is seen across local government agencies as “one of the most important issues facing the Triangle Region.”

 

Confused?  Even skeptical? 

I’m starting to appreciate that while the big changes are 10+ years away, our city has truly embarked on this journey, one that will fundamentally alter the way we get around.    But given the variety of agencies involved and the scale of capital investment, the process requires an incredibly complex amount of planning on the part of officials, what Mitchell Silver, the City Planning Director, refers to as “a lot of moving parts”, but perhaps more importantly, an even more daunting effort to get citizens on board.

Transit covers various modes of public transportation, and can get very complicated, so I’ve collected information here that will hopefully help explain the key components of our transit process, and what is happening now.

  1. Regional Transit System
  2. High Speed Rail
  3. Union Station / Transit Oriented Development

Regional Transit System: 

What is it? A multi-county (Wake, Durham, Orange) effort focused on future transit improvements that includes buses, commuter rail and light rail.

When? Ongoing, for example, additional train service was recently added between Raleigh and Charlotte.  A new route from Downtown Raleigh to RDU has also been recently proposed.  

Key issues? An ambitious transit system plan covering an expansion of bus service and the addition of commuter and light rail is being developed.  The plan is a first step to secure needed funding through a 1/2 cent sales tax to be voted on by referendum – date not set, but likely next fall.

What’s happening now? A Public Meeting is schedule for June 28th, as part of a Federally prescribed alternatives analysis needed to support federal funding of major capital investments.  See a preview of the presentation here.

High Speed Rail: 

What is it? The Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) is part of a project to extend high speed rail from the Northeast (Boston / Washington D.C.) through Virginia (Richmond / Petersburg) and North Carolina (Raleigh / Charlotte).

When? That’s the big question, and most people think we’re still 10-15 years away.  But, there is a federal push for this project, and NC was recently awarded $520 million in federal recovery funds for the section between Raleigh and Charlotte.

Key issues?  A study is underway that reviews two alternatives for the project corridor that could have major implications on the Downtown area.  A recent article from the Raleigh Connoisseur blog provides a good understanding of the alternatives for having the corridor follow the existing Norfolk Southern (NS) line, or the Eastern Branch following the existing CSX line.

What’s happening now? The City Council appointed an 11-member Passenger Rail Task Force to advise the Council on issues related to the passenger rail service.  A Public Hearing is schedule for July 26th to review the recently completed draft environmental statement, a key step towards implementing the service.  


Union Station / Transit Oriented Development: 

What is it?  Union Station is the name given to a Multi-Modal Transit Center, sometimes referred to as Raleigh’s “Grand Central Station”.  In addition to serving as a rail station for high-speed, commuter and light rail, ‘Union Station’ would provide bus platforms for Greyhound, Triangle Transit and Capital Area Transit.  

The 2030 Comprehensive Plan provides guidelines to encourage integrated mixed use transit oriented development which can be served by and support a regional transit system, including the development of and around Union Station and the rail corridor. 

When?  Probably a decade away, but as the station is being designed as a hub for retail, commercial and residential growth, there’s a need to finalize the design parameters that can start to attract the needed private investments.

Key issues?  The proposed location along the intersecting tracks west of Downtown is described as the most complicated section of rail crossings and junctions in the state.  A phased approach is planned, but the overall price tag of Union Station is estimated to be in the range of $200 million, with the expectation that federal funding will cover 80% of the cost.  

What’s happening now?  A draft report on the Multi-Modal Transit Center was released in April, followed by a public review meeting on May 12th.  There is an excellent summary of the report written by the Raleigh Connoisseur. 

A public workshop has been scheduled for June 24th, to study Capital Boulevard’s unused land along the rail corridor, and how best to to transform Capital Boulevard into a vibrant mixed-use northern gateway into Downtown Raleigh.  The vision even includes a riverwalk.

 

I appreciate living in one of the fastest growing cities in the US.  It takes foresight and imagination on the part of our city officials to manage this growth.  Join me in letting them know, if they build it, we will come!

Music to Our Ears – A Dialogue on Outside Amplified Entertainment

May 26, 2010 /

Downtown residents and merchants share a common interest in the ongoing development of our Downtown, and both parties wish to have a strong and open relationship, working together on important issues that ensure a vibrant and balanced growth for our Downtown.  “Outdoor amplified entertainment” is an opportunity which has recently engendered a helpful dialogue between residents and restaurants.  Many have approached the DLA, wondering if we sponsor an official policy on this issue.  

But the DLA, seeing restaurants and merchants not just as service providers, but neighbors, seek to use this discussion to develop a healthy “neighborly” relationship, built on openness and trust.   

As in any healthy relationship, both parties benefit from a common understanding through dialogue.  The DLA has listened to both residents and restaurants talk about this issue on numerous occasions, so we decided it would be helpful to share some important points that may help in future discussions.   

  • Residents are typically frequent customers, and desire a ‘special’ relationship with the merchants located in their neighborhoods that may be different from other customers.  For example, this might include being informed when significant changes are being planned that impact product / service offerings or the local environment. 
  • Residents share a wide range of views with respect to restaurants using outdoor music, and these views differ by residential building and neighborhood.  
  • Unlike most suburban neighborhoods, people who decide to live Downtown are often attracted to the vibrancy and energy in their neighborhoods where outside music is available.  
  • Residents support the use of Outdoor Amplified Entertainment Permits issued by the city that are used to control the frequency, sound limitations (decibel level) and duration of music, and expect these provisions of the permits to be enforced.

 The DLA encourages regular, open communication between residents and merchants.

  • We encourage residents to make the effort to get to know the owners/managers and staff of the restaurants in their neighborhood.  Let them know you are their neighbor and share your thoughts about the neighborhood.  Include what you like, along with suggestions for fine tuning that can often be accommodated between neighbors.
  • Merchants should expect that residents are on their side, and that most residents are likely to be supportive of their customer-friendly plans for growing their business.

As Downtown Raleigh developes, we benefit together.  The DLA is grateful and excited to feel a growing sense of team membership with residents, merchants and city officials who seek a balance that serves the best interests of all.

 

Comments to the post from Downtown residents and merchants are welcomed.

Pigeon House Branch, A “New” Downtown Raleigh Waterway

May 3, 2010 /

Looking down from my Glenwood South condo terrace, I see a small creek that emerges from under my building, then disappears under West Street.  

I’ve noticed the small creek before, but didn’t give it much thought until recently.  That’s when I learned that the forgotten creek – today mostly buried in giant pipes – is actually the most prominent waterway in central Raleigh. Unfortunately, it’s also the most abused.

The Pigeon House Branch flows from Edna Metz Wells Park, just down from Cameron Village, through Cameron Park down Johnson Street, into Glenwood South, across Peace Street, down through the former Devereaux Meadows, and then flows north along Capital Boulevard.

Some of you may have read the story of Devereaux Meadows, site of a former minor league baseball stadium that was featured a few months ago in the DTraleigh.com blog.

Devereaux Meadows, Courtesy of North Carolina State Archives

There is a project underway by the city to clean up the creek, but city officials are starting to think BIGGER.  Given the prominent location of the creek, running through the northern gateway into Downtown Raleigh, there is even talk of creating a “river walk”.   This idea was first mentioned last year in the vision of Dan Douglas for the Downtown’s northern gateway, now included in the gateway options under study by city planners.

A waterway / riverwalk could form an important part of the new northern gateway into the city, just as Union Station anchors the southern gateway. 

Imagine walking or riding your bike down the “new” tree-lined green space along Capital Boulevard that borders this “new” waterway, as you watch passenger trains roll by on their way into Downtown Raleigh. 

I see this vision becoming a reality in the not too distant future.  Borrowing the words of John Lennon, “Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one!”

Cul de Sacs vs Street Corners: What Is Your Neighborhood’s “Walk Score”?

January 26, 2010 /

Do you know there is a “walk score” that has been developed to find out if you live in a walkable neighborhood?  It calculates the pedestrian friendliness of your address by locating nearby stores, restaurants and parks.  A recent article in the New York Times cites that “walkability” is becoming an increasingly important factor in selecting a home.  The ability to walk places without having to get into a car is listed as one of the most important reasons people choose to live Downtown.

Of course there are  obvious health benefits to walking, but it’s clearly something more that causes people to want to leave their cars behind.  Imagine making those routine, short trips to do errands on foot.  You greet your neighbors on the sidewalk and come home from the dry cleaners having had a brisk walk, rather than feeling annoyed over the difficulty in finding a parking place.  Then layer in the burden of devoting more and more money (gasoline cost) and time (traffic congestion) to serve your dependency on your car… 

Welcome to Downtown living!  Since suburban patterns of living are designed for the car, breaking free often means choosing to live in more densely populated areas in the Downtown, where the pedestrian experience is enhanced as shops can locate closer together and mass transit can be offered as an alternative to walking for longer trips and inclement weather.

Economic forces have made it increasingly clear to our Raleigh City officials of the need to find alternatives to suburban sprawl, and to begin a concerted effort focused on re-development and infill.  The 2030 Plan adopted last year is designed to funnel much of the city’s growth to Downtown, and this year the city has embarked on an ambitious project to rewrite the long standing Development Codes.

Changing behavior can be a hard thing to do, and the Downtown Living Advocates appreciate the challenges facing the City of Raleigh, which has only recently started to focus on luring more businesses and residents to make the choice to locate Downtown. 

The DLA also understands why “walkability” is such an important part in making our Downtown Raleigh an attractive place to live.   Our members live downtown. Raleigh sidewalks line our front doors.  We know first hand how the pedestrian experience is enhanced with a greater variety of ground floor retail, sidewalks that are wide, clean and safe, and with the proper balance of open space.  In many ways, this is a return to the settings we all knew before malls and cul-de-sacs.  

Our group is closely following and supporting the city’s efforts in revitalizing the Downtown, including Development Codes, which establish the rules that define how development happens on our streets and neighborhoods . . and support “walkability”.

We invite you to join us in this important effort.

The Bus Stops Here! R-Line Answers Downtown Raleigh’s Transportation Needs

January 5, 2010 /

The free Eco-friendly (hybrid electric) R-Line bus service started in February 2009, as a way to help to connect employees, residents and visitors to retail, restaurants and entertainment venues in different parts of the Downtown loop.  

The city’s YouRHere branding is hard to miss as the big green and blue colored buses navigate their 20 stops throughout the Downtown rea.  You never have to walk too far to an R-Line bus stop, and with 2 buses running along the 25 minute circular route, the longest wait is only around 12 minutes.

Coming up on  its one year anniversary, ridership numbers show that residents, commuters, and visitors all love their new way of getting around Downtown. 

 

 

Source: Ridership numbers provided by City of Raleigh – Transit.

The ridership numbers show that about 570 people ride the R-Line each weekday,  indicating that Downtown daytime workers are enjoying the convenience of taking the bus to reach their favorite lunch spot.  However, weekends are even more popular, with an average of 800 riders on Saturdays.  A closer look shows that the heaviest times are weekend evenings (3-11pm),  when both residents and visitors take the R-Line to reach their destination restaurant or entertainment venue.  

 

Source: Ridership numbers provided by City of Raleigh – Transit.

The R-Line can also serve as a great way to safely get back to your car after a night out on the town, though weekend late night (11pm-2am) ridership has remained relatively low.

One of the goals of the service  is to encourage more people from the “burbs” to take advantage of the city’s underused parking desks on evenings and weekends, using the service to easily reach other parts of the city.  (See our related blog posts “Cars Are Here, but Parking is Not on Glenwood South”, and “Are you a Raleigh First Friday Newbie?”.)  

It’s not possible to tell from the numbers if indeed Downtown visitors have begun to park and ride, so please take a moment and  fill out our Survey.

New changes coming to the R-LIne in 2010

There are two  significant changes coming that will be welcomed by R-Line riders.  First, sometime next spring a passenger information website will be available  allowing riders to see online where the R-Line buses are located “real time”.  Additionally, the city is working on installing three bus shelters along the route early next year.  One will be at the Convention Center, with the other locations still to be confirmed.

 

 

 

 

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