Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: Transportation / Parking (Page 8 of 10)

Considering Raleigh’s High Speed Rail Alternatives: The New NC4 Avoidance Alternative Needs to be Studied.

September 6, 2010 /

You probably notice the signs posted along Glenwood Avenue in the neighborhoods around Five Points that vehemently oppose the option of NC3, and if you talk to neighbors in Glenwood South, you’ll hear them just as emphatically speak in favor of it.  

Writing not as a DLA member, but as an interested and informed Downtowner, my main objective at this point is to say, let’s take time to consider an option that offers a livable alternative for both Five Points and Downtown.         

While we were all focused on the debate between the two alternatives for Raleigh as presented by the SEHSR Project Team at the public hearing back on July 26th, a new option suddenly surfaced.  This new option, initially identified as the ‘NC1&2 avoidance alternative’ at the more recent public hearing on August 31st, is now being called ‘NC4’.

New street connections enhance Downtown livabilityA group of citizen advocates and engineers first shared their maps and information on the NC4 option with me just 3 weeks ago.  I was skeptical at first that such an 11th hour option could possibly be seriously considered, particularly one that required a new set of elevated tracks to follow a new route from Capital Boulevard to West Street.  

 

 

But as I took more time to study the plans I became convinced that this option would address the principal concerns expressed by all residents, and could actually serve to enhance our Downtown livability. 

NC4 is simple in concept and would enhance Downtown Livability

Actually it’s not really a totally new option, but a hybrid of the NC1&2 option.  It is simple in concept and the new rail section only impacts an under-developed 4-block area on the northeast corner of Glenwood South.

The NC4 Avoidance Alternative has a long list of benefits and is likely to cost less than NC3, due to the dramatically reduced impact to homes and businesses.  Additional tax revenue would also accrue from the new redevelopment opportunities.

Please click the link below to see an illustration of an urban viaduct, maps and a satellite photo of the NC4 alignment, as well as an overview of the primary benefits. 

http://www.livingstreets.com/blog/20100904_sehsr_nc4/

The City Council will consider its recommendation on the rail pathways at their 1:00pm meeting tomorrow, September 7th.  They may decide to endorse one of the existing alternatives or request the NCDOT to study this new NC4 Avoidance Alternative.

Neither the public nor the City Council can vote on this new alternative until further study by the NCDOT has been completed.  I encourage you to contact the City Council and urge them to request the NCDOT to take the additional time now to study this new alternative.  

This decision is too important to rush.  




The No-Longer Hidden Cost of Parking in Downtown Raleigh

August 28, 2010 /

If you’re a visitor to the areas within Downtown Raleigh where parking meters have sprung up, you may be tempted to complain.  But let me give you a few things to consider that might change your viewpoint.

You are most likely accustomed to being able to park close to your destination and not pay a fee.  This is of course what most drivers experience in the suburbs, where big-box stores, retail strip centers and indoor malls come surrounded with loads of free parking spaces.  

Yet we need to appreciate that parking associated with suburban pattern living has a hidden cost, and one that is ultimately paid by everyone in the form of traffic congestion, negative consequences on the environment, and the poor use of available land.  A NYT article makes some good points about how Free Parking Comes at a Price.

Urban centers by their very nature encourage a more efficient use of space, and these costs are gradually becoming more visible, as with the recent expanded use of metered on-street parking on many of our Downtown streets.  If the existing city owned parking decks become better utilized as a result, then that’s a good thing, and we save taxpayer money.

One unfortunate reality today in Downtown Raleigh is the abundance of privately owned surface parking lots that in most cases are used as “space holders” by land owners waiting all too patiently to cash in at a future time when there are better development opportunities for their parcels of land.

Consequently, open land used in its simplest form as parking lots, dot the Downtown landscape and discourage pedestrian activity as the adjacent sidewalks are often unkept and overgrown with vegetation . . and there’s nothing interesting about walking by a parking lot!

My friend Leo recently posted a very informative article on his Raleigh Connoisseur blog that led me to write this post.  He makes an excellent case for just how inefficient our Downtown land use has become when he points out, “you may be surprised to know that your Downtown parking lot is worth more than the cars that sit on them!”  

Read on . . . 

Public Hearing on Monday: The DLA Position on High Speed Train Pathways into Downtown Raleigh

July 24, 2010 /

Major Implications for Downtown

Key streets could be permanently closed.


BE SURE TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR DOWNTOWN!  JULY 26TH, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER

 

Our DLA Recommendations:

  • Downtown-wide quiet zones at all rail crossings
  • Trains entering/exiting Downtown to travel along west side of Capital Boulevard (Norfolk Southern Tracks)
  • Tunneling the tracks at Jones Street and parallel to Glenwood South, so as to permit Jones Street to remain open


Raleigh’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan recognizes the importance of developing urban centers as a critical element for the sustainable growth of our city, identifying street connectivity, pedestrian and bicycle access as specific needs to be addressed.

In alignment with these objectives, the Downtown Living Advocates (formed to encourage continued growth of the Downtown residential community), supports the expansion of the public transport network in Raleigh, as well as connecting Raleigh to other cities along U.S. rail corridors by way of passenger rail.  Plans for the new Southeastern High Speed Rail (SEHSR) connection to Raleigh provide an important choice between alternative train pathways through our Downtown area, a decision that could have a significant impact on our Downtown’s livability far into the future.

Street connectivity and pedestrian and bicycle accessibility must be maintained throughout the Downtown, particularly in the areas of West, Harrington and Jones Streets, which serve as key connections between the mixed use developments of Glenwood South and the Capital District.  This is an important opportunity for Downtown residents and our city government to join together in support of the train pathway that best protects and fosters mobility and accessibility across our Downtown neighborhoods.  

A draft environmental impact statement has been prepared that lays out the various alternatives for the SEHSR project corridor.  Each alternative calls for key Downtown streets to be closed or bridged – see chart below.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click map thumbnails below to see a full size view of the transit alternatives

 NC1/NC2 alignment (CSX)              NC3 alignment (NS)         

Given the present alternatives, the DLA strongly recommends that high speed passenger trains follow the Norfolk Southern tracks north from Jones Street along the west side of Capital Boulevard (alignment NC3), and is strongly opposed to the alternative that the trains travel along the east side of Capital Boulevard, using the CSX tracks (alignment NC1/NC2). 

  

Norfolk Southern Tracks (Recommended)

CSX Tracks (Not Recommended)

Keeps key North-South streets of West and Harrington open to vehicle traffic.

Permanently closes West and Harrington Streets to all vehicle traffic.

Avoids the need for a bridge that spans four city blocks over the highly populated and commercially active area of Glenwood South.

Requires a vehicle bridge over Jones Street that would negatively impact pedestrian and commercial activity in the area.

Allows for a pedestrian bridge or underpass to be installed to maintain existing access along Jones Street.

Without a separate walkway, pedestrians would be inconvenienced with having to walk over a 25-foot high vehicle bridge. 

Completes Downtown-wide ‘quiet zone” with installation of Four-quadrant gates at existing train crossings at West and Harrington Streets.

Not applicable, as West and Harrington Streets grade-level crossing would be permanently closed to vehicle traffic.

 

The DLA encourages all residents of Downtown Raleigh to attend the public hearing on July 26th.  The public comment period is scheduled to end on August 30th, and can provide your inputs on this important issue to the SEHSR website.

The DLA is Proud to Announce CAR SHARING! Now available in Downtown Raleigh

July 20, 2010 /

 

Is your car is gathering dust in  a Downtown parking garage because you use it so occasionally?  

Go ahead!  Dump the extra car, put that cost to much better use and start car sharing!

 

Though car sharing programs normally begin when big businesses or universities get involved, (offering their cars when available to nearby residents as a way to offset their costs), the DLA recognized the benefit for residents, so we decided to take it upon ourselves to get things going and went about finding a sponsor.

And, we did it – car sharing in Downtown Raleigh starts today!

Ann-Cabell Baum Andersen, a board member of the DLA and owner of Glenwood Agency, is sponsoring the initial two cars for the program.  On behalf of all Downtown residents, we thank her for stepping up and making it all happen.  

“I’m confident that other downtown businesses will want to join me in supporting a car- sharing program that provides alternative transportation options for their employees,” said Baum Andersen. “The people in the downtown Raleigh community have always supported my business and I wanted to give back to the community. What better way than to help launch a car-share program?”

The city government agrees that this kind of alternative transit option is needed, and now that the service is here, we expect other businesses government agencies, and possibly even local universities to jump on board.

“Providing a car-sharing option to the residents and business community in downtown Raleigh is a step in achieving our mission of supporting balanced and sustainable growth for downtown”, said Mayor Meeker. “Offering residents and downtown workers an efficient and convenient transportation solution through WeCar, makes using other methods of transportation a more viable option for day-to-day commuting.”

 

What is Car Sharing?

Car sharing is a group car rental program in which members share a common vehicle, each reserving the vehicle for specified periods of time, paying a $10 per hour (fuel included) for the use of that vehicle.  The cars sit ready and waiting 24/7 at convenient locations in the city.

To take part, members simply go online and reserve a car for as long as they need it.  The process is fully managed online, and vehicles are picked up and dropped off at designated locations.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car located at 431 S. MacDowell Street is the service provider under their car sharing service known as WeCar.  One car will be parked on their lot, and the other located in Glenwood South (off West Street, next to the Mirage Night Club).  Both locations are conveniently located, just a short walk from stops on the Downtown Circulator, the R-Line.

Advantages of Car Sharing for residents – Save Money!

  • Rent only for the time you need the car
  • Allows Downtown residents the option of forgoing the expense of owning a second car 

And, car sharing has the potential for making Downtown living more affordable as multi-unit building owners begin to uncouple parking from the cost of the unit for those residents who forego a car.  And likewise, developers may be encouraged to construct buildings with fewer parking areas and pass on the savings to reduce housing costs.

 

Come celebrate the launch of car sharing in Raleigh at our DLA Mixer tomorrow tonight (5-7pm) at The Mint,

. . where DLA members can take advantage of a members-only promotion. 

 

 

Note: The DLA is a volunteer organization and is supporting this service for the benefit of Downtown Raleigh residents.  The DLA receives no financial benefit from Enterprise or WeCar for their support.

 

 

 

Reinventing Capital Boulevard – Northern Gateway into Downtown Raleigh

July 8, 2010 /

The kickoff public meeting for the Capital Blvd Corridor Study was held on June 24th with over 200 people in attendance, most of whom either lived in, operated businesses, or owned property in the immediate area.  The intent of this study is to reinvent this northern corridor to Downtown Raleigh and design a plan on how to redevelop this area from the near to long-term.

Following an overview of the study, participants broke into groups (8-10 people) and discussed four main topics that the Planning Department wanted to make sure it captured through public involvement:

1) Did the study boundary include all of the areas that should be under consideration for redevelopment, or were any left out?

2) What are the biggest issues that redevelopment of this area could address?

3) What are the biggest opportunities that redevelopment of this corridor could accomplish?

4) What are the biggest obstacles standing in the way of making our visions a reality?

The ultimate goal of this study is to create a list of priorities based on the final recommendations, in order to create short-term, mid-term, and long-term development goals of this area.  Eventually these will be presented to the City Council to get funding and begin action.

It is critical that other efforts of the City Planning– be integrated into this study, including both the plans for high-speed rail along this corridor (including the planned new Union Station), and the Unified Development Ordinance, which will address new zoning regulations for Raleigh.  This study will also open up the opportunities to create a “gateway” into Raleigh, including a greenway into Downtown that connects with the one just south of I-440, cleaning up Pigeon House Branch Creek (possibly creating a “river-walk” experience), enhancing landscaping along the corridor, controlling traffic patterns between downtown and I-440 in a more logical manner, and countless other opportunities. 

The next public meeting is expected to happen in September or October of this year. You can stay up to date on this topic and other development related information by subscribing at the City of Raleigh’s Planning Department site.

 

Report provided by Chris Roberts, DLA Representative for the Capital Boulevard Corridor / Northern Downtown Gateway. 

DLA member Leo Suarez of the Raleigh Connoisseur also attended the kick-off meeting, so you’ll also want to jump over to the Raleigh Connoisseur to read what he has to say in his recent post “What is the Future of Capital Boulevard?”



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