Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

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Light Rail “Streetcars”: the Tail that Wags the Dog

July 10, 2011 /

Passenger rail is back in the Raleigh area news.  You may have noticed the following stories since the last DLA Blog update.

  • Durham officials have approved a fall public referendum to to fund local commuter rail, while Wake County plans a referendum for the following fall, hoping a more favorable economic climate will improve chances of passage.
  • In the meantime, a plan for a new Downtown Raleigh Commuter Rail station is taking shape.
  • Raleigh city officials are moving closer to recommending a light rail route through the Downtown.

With the focus on commuters, it’s the 30,000 government workers driving daily into the city that drive Raleigh ridership projections and elicit the political weight needed to keep the plans for light rail transit moving forward.

There is a bigger picture . . . and one that public officials appreciate, but how do we get from here to there?

Getting the initial funding approved is step one.  This will begin with enhanced bus service and a 37-mile commuter (Park and Ride) rail service with stops in Cary and Downtown Raleigh.  

Plans for the 18 mile light rail portion of the rail corridor from Northwest Cary through Downtown and north to Triangle Town Center are firmed up, with the exception of the short (1 mile) route through Downtown Raleigh.

What are alternatives for routes through Downtown Raleigh?

Three months ago the public saw an array of 9 conceptual alignments under review by the transit authorities for the Downtown section, which were soon reduced to 4.  Now, after further analysis and negotiation among experts and city officials, it seems we’re down to just 2 that continue to be supported by the city and Triangle Transit.  These alignments, labelled D6 and D6A are actually pretty similar, and best of all, neither involves the elevated flyovers opposed by downtown residents.  There are pros and cons to each of the routes with respect to impacts on traffic flow, noise and urban design, but both meet the primary demands of accessibility to the government complex.

The key consideration is access to rail transit for government workers.

The Passenger Rail Task Force has recommended route D6A, with two government stations on Salisbury Street, while the City Planning and Development Unit recommends route D6, with a government station on Harrington Street (between Jones and Lane Streets).  

The City Council will need to make a decision on which of these two alignments to recommend to Triangle Transit, but intends to first get the public’s input at a workshop/hearing expected some time in early August . . expect an announcement soon.

What is the bigger picture when it comes to light rail vehicles?

All the study and analysis on rail alignments to-date have focused on the accommodations required for long, unwieldy light rail vehicles, which are designed principally to transport (Park and Ride) commuters within the rail corridor. Because of their length (nearly a block long), they present many difficulties navigating corners and changes in terrain within densely packed city streets. 

The bigger picture involves a future phase that offers much smaller, light rail “streetcars”, which stop frequently and can easily move within traffic on city streets.  Now, finally we’ve reached the dog’s tail.  How so?  Consider that even though commuters represent 28% of trips, the majority (72%) of local travel [see chart below] during non-peak hours of the day are for recreational, shopping and other personal business.  This is where these streetcars really make the difference.  

A future street car system will bring residents in and out of Downtown Raleigh from many different directions.  Potential corridors that have been previously discussed include:

  • Glenwood Avenue from the north
  • Saunders Street from the south
  • Hillsborough Street from the west
  • New Bern Avenue from the east

It is this longer range vision of an integrated passenger rail transit system with a mix of high speed, commuter rail and a true modern (light rail) street car system that will ultimately deliver the full benefits of reducing road congestion, while igniting a wave of transit oriented (walk to stations) higher density infill development that is critically needed to effectively support our city’s continued growth.  

Many are talking about the high cost of the rail transit system and questioning whether we can afford it.  When you look at the benefit to the environment (less traffic, energy consumption), quality neighborhoods with a rich mix of housing, shopping and transportation choices, and even the health benefits of more people walking and biking to work and play, the return on this investment is clear.

Have some thoughts about light rail coming to Raleigh?  Share them here.


New Greenway Connections Multiply Options for Biking, Running and Walking in Downtown Raleigh

June 17, 2011 /

Have you ever noticed anyone in a bad mood on the Greenway?  Neither have I.  It’s just miles of smiles!  So I’m always excited when I hear of plans to increase those miles…

This week, I attended the lunch time forum at the Urban Design Center to get an update on the latest plans for Raleigh’s greenway grid.  As a Downtown resident, I’m particularly interested in any new routes that make it possible for me to enjoy the Greenways without having to get in my car first.

Until Now

As background to those new to the Greenway, I posted a Greenway Guide a year ago that included a detailed map of the only Greenway connection into Downtown Raleigh from the south, which links up with the Walnut Creek and Rocky Branch Greenways.

More recently, I talked about a vital connection to Umstead State Park, where issues with neighbors and an adjacent quarry were holding up a necessary right of way for the 1.3 mile link to the Crabtree Creek Greenway.  Sig Hutchinson (Mr. Greenway) has been working on this issue for the city, and it appears a solution has been reached.

Now Two New Connections

This week I learned some other exciting news about two new Greenway connections into Downtown Raleigh.

First, a more convenient connection into Downtown from the west will start at the Convention Center, travel along Cabarrus Street through Boylan Heights (along sidewalks), and link up with the Rocky Branch Greenway near the Central Prison along Western Boulevard.

Second, a connection going north from downtown will link up with the Crabtree Creek  Greenway from Raleigh Boulevard.  This one has been talked about for a while, but I’m hearing that the route has now been worked out.

Click to enlargeHere is a map showing where all the new greenways extensions will connect into Downtown Raleigh, including the House Creek Trail Greenway now being built, which provides the long sought linkage of the Crabtree Trail and the Reedy Creek Trail Greenways.  Use this link to view additional map details.

 

 

 

 

Look for These Other New Connections

There were also several other important greenway connections underway.  You can go to the City’s website and download the updated maps.

  • East Fork Mine Creek Trail Greenway extending north from Shelley Lake
  • Neuse River Trail Greenway extending north to Falls Lake Dam
  • Walnut Creek Trail Greenway extending east to the Neuse River

Note: The Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek, and Neuse River Greenway will all eventually connect at Anderson Point Park. 

At a time when so much funding is being cut, I appreciate the investment our city government is putting into residents’ quality of life.  This directly impacts our mental and physical health.  It builds community.  It’s a sure fire way to increase smiles!

(To see all past articles from this blog about greenways, click on the Parks & Green Space tag.)

 

The Carter Building: Creating Community through Art  Impressions of an Artist New to TCB

June 2, 2011 /

Last fall, I found myself in a position of growing my art studio from the lone space I had enjoyed in an apartment building on Glenwood Ave to establishing a presence in a creative community.  It was important to me to feel at home in an environment that would appreciate the knowing I had that art was a language of the spirit.  It was not just about outcome, but process, as well. Awake at 3:00 in the morning, I got out of bed to look up the link for The Carter Building.  What I read there about the creative community inhabiting a building that dated back in the Carter family to the 1920s, lured me to bring my husband with me to tour the space the following day.  The impression I had there was like walking into a Hobbit warren.  Stairways leaned and floors tilted, and everywhere art and artists’ tools competed for space.  It was that day that I knocked on Mr. Carter’s door and announced that I was coming.  He had no space available, but I knew I was meant to be there. This was a place that felt like home.

This Saturday The Carter Building artists will be hosting a gathering of school children, local celebrities, and neighbors to paint a mural [pictured here] entitled, “Raleigh, My Dream City” designed by Tunde Afolayan and Lee Ball, which will decorate the exterior of The Carter Building.  

This is exactly the vision I had when I got out of bed in that early morning last November.  I wanted to be in a place that acknowledged the creativity inside each person; a place where people experienced community, and one that allowed each to contribute according to his nature.

I invite you to be part of the dream.  

Feel a glimmer of ownership as you stroll down Glenwood South.  Bring your kids so they can share the experience of creating something that will touch others for years to come.


New UDO Zoning District “Downtown Mixed Use District” will soon become the law. Here’s what it says . . .

May 30, 2011 /

This is a chance for Downtown Raleigh residents to change hats, and imagine how urban planners prepare the ground for future city development.  What is critical to preserve, and what ensures an environment that is both business and resident friendly?  

Like other zoning districts within the new Unified Development Code (UDO), the Downtown Mixed Use zoning district will not just guide the future development of our city, it will define in great detail what can be done, and where.

Downtown mixed use coding is intended to accommodate the most intense mixed use and mixed housing options in the city, and implement the Central Business District land use category within Raleigh’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

First, it’s important to note that old mixed use categories are replaced with new districts.

All types of buildings are permitted within a Downtown Mixed Use District, except for attached and detached housing.  

* Use of frontages may increase height and intensity opportunities (see below).  ** Transparency = minimum % of windows and doors that must cover a ground or upper story facade

Let’s consider the issue of allowable frontages.  A number of frontage designations have been prepared to address a variety of desired development patterns.

Frontage designations

 

The zoning maps implemented as part of the UDO are parcel specific, allowing for a variety of mixed use districts to be constructed by applying different height and frontage configurations.

Example: [DX- 5-SH] = Downtown Mixed Use, up to 5 stories with shopfront required

Neighborhood compatibility standards

Another issue is considering neighborhood compatibility standards.  These apply in the mixed use districts and may require a buffer (landscaping, wall or fence) or restrict use, height and form when the following occurs:

  1. site immediately abuts or is within 50 feet of a residential district boundary
  2. the abutting or adjacent property is zoned to accommodate a detached or attached house that is zoned for residential purposes only

In order to regulate use, categories of uses have been established.  Use categories classify land uses and activities based on common functional, product or physical characteristics.  View the table here.

Next Steps

After the public comment period ends on June 6th, the Planning Staff will report back to City Council later in the month.  Using the information gathered, City Council will decide if the draft is ready for the “official” public hearing originally scheduled for July 19th.  The current expectation is that the UDO will be approved by year end, and will become law effective January 1, 2012.

If you would like to post your own comments on this topic, go to the UDO website where you will find this article posted.  But you’ll need to act fast as the public comment period is only open for another week (until June 6th).

This is a lot to wade through, but as residents, we are uniquely qualified to present the local, personal response to what others might imagine in arbitrary, schematic guidelines.  If any of these guidelines run counter to your sensing, as one who lives in the space that others are contouring for future development, your voice is needed.  Please contribute your very valuable feedback while it can still be acted upon.

Thanks for being a mover and shaker in Raleigh!  All it requires is the time it takes to reflect on how these charts might apply to your neighborhood.  Thanks for your input.

 

 

Links to Related Documents

Downtown Zoning Map: This is a Downtown view of the color coded zoning map that will be replaced when the UDO codes are eventually applied to create a new map.

Other UDO Documents: These include the full draft of the UDO Consolidated Draft.

 


Get on board! Communication between HOA boards and residents has never been easier!

May 11, 2011 /

Does your neighborhood have a good system for communicating?  Are you able to quickly get answers to neighborhood questions?  If not, read on.

Today, simple web based tools allow neighborhood organizations the opportunity to  set up online discussion forums and electronic bulletin boards to foster communication with and among residents.  And best of all, many of these systems are completely free to set up and operate!

While you may not run into your neighbors enough to be on a first name basis, you’ve probably at times wanted to share information with others who obviously have common concerns and experiences.  Living in the same environment, you can obviously learn some useful things about maintenance issues or maybe just an answer to the question, “What was that strange noise last night”?  And the need for a conversation only increases if you live in a multi-unit building, where you share common space and services.  But all too often the communication doesn’t happen, either because residents don’t see each other or don’t feel they know each other well enough to have these conversations.

HOAs or neighborhood organizations of course have a responsibility to communicate to their residents about things they “need to know” about regulations and common services.  But the HOA may not want to spend the time or money to develop an online or telecommunications system that they think nobody will use.  So they continue to rely on snail mail or announcements slipped under the door for only the most critical of information.

If your neighborhood organization hasn’t yet taken advantage to these tools, I recommend using Google Groups working in tandem with Google Sites.  I’m not a technical wiz or expert, but I was able to set up this system on behalf of my HOA, so I figure pretty much anyone can do it.

The system is easy to set up and use.

  • HOAs post information and residents post questions or comments by sending an email to a specific (Group) address.
  • Posts and replies are automatically sent to member addresses via email.
  • A website containing information (regulations, by-laws, how-to’s, etc.) can be posted by the HOA, searchable using keywords.

Residents control how information is delivered.

  • You can control how email messages are delivered, either distributed as posted or as a digest (multiple posts together).
  • If you don’t wish to use email, you can post and access information through the Group Homepage.
  • You can unsubscribe yourself from the discussion forum and/or website at anytime.

Emails and posted information is kept private.

  • Group members’ emails are known only to the Group Administrator and are not visible or shared.  Note: Members may wish to set up a separate G-mail account for this purpose.
  • Members can update their email address without having to notify anyone.
  • The website can be kept private, accessible only by invitation.

Neighbors may not meet at the town square any more, or even strike up conversations in the elevator, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still share common interests and concerns.

My own HOA started using this system and it seems to work well.  But if you have suggestions on other systems that you have found to work effectively within your neighborhood or condo/apartment building, we’d like to hear from you.

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