Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Page 33 of 51

Light rail in Downtown Raleigh: We need effective transit that will attract choice riders

March 25, 2011 /

If you’ve attended any public meeting regarding Raleigh’s light rail, you may have noticed a gap between engineers’ ideas and those of developers who seek to maximize quality infill of vacant urban lots with vibrant, appealing options for downtown residents.  For instance, the need for flyovers seems to be full of engineer assumptions about travel speeds, types of train cars, length of cars, etc… I understand that it’s cheaper, but I think it’s important to say that Raleigh doesn’t need cheap transit.  We need effective transit that will attract riders.

I join urban planners in saying that we do that by putting light rail on the ground, where it encourages economic development and is approachable, walkable, and accessible.  I’m picturing an attractive, elevated plaza on what is now the undeveloped area south of the Glenwood/Morgan intersection and north of the Boylan Wye.  This would allow light rail to connect to Union Station at a street level – see these images, making the Union Station concourse the center of block redevelopment.

In contrast, the engineering-based alternative proposes building giant bridges across the entire west half of downtown discouraging economic development, local choice (walk-up / bike-up) ridership and ultimately creating an eyesore to residents, because it’s cheap.  No thanks.

Recent articles provide some background:

Rail route is blurry through downtown Raleigh

A (maybe) light-rail bridge over Boylan Avenue

Wanted: your input on Raleigh train routes and station locations

I agree with those who believe the light rail should head north from Union Station on Wilmington and Salisbury streets.  This route is nearest our state government complex where we employ more than 10,000 workers who could use this option to commute to work. 

Lastly, it’s frustrating that TTA did not provide a photo illustration of the Morgan Street connection.  I wonder why?  If all options are equal, all are on the table and TTA is deferring to Raleigh for the final decision making, why not make that option as visible of the other two?  It doesn’t add up.

I’m looking forward to attending the workshop on March 30th at the McKimmon Center so I can learn more. Please join me in what I hope to be a great turnout so we can make our voices heard – for the overall project and its promise for Raleigh’s redevelopment.  Flyovers aren’t going to do it!

See you there!

Triangle Transit has now posted the downtown rail alignments on their website.  A downtown alignment not shown but supported by members of the Mayor’s Passenger Rail Task Force is a “hybrid” of D6, that combines the benefits of D5 & D6.

Artsplosure Looking for Volunteers for the World Beer Festival

March 18, 2011 /

For the second year, Artsplosure has been chosen by All About Beer Magazine as its local charity partner for the 2011 World Beer Festival in Raleigh.  A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to Artsplosure, but that is dependent upon the success of the festival, which is why they need you!

Will you volunteer for the World Beer Festival on Saturday, April 9?  By volunteering for the World Beer Festival, you are also supporting the continued work of Artsplosure to present high quality annual festivals bringing great visual and performing art to downtown Raleigh.

Volunteer Shifts:

10:30am – 4:30pm, and

4:30pm – 10:30pm.

Each volunteer will also need to attend a volunteer training meeting the week before the festival.

Volunteer for the World Beer Festival – Learn about the art of great beer and meet new friends!

Volunteers, in addition to supporting Artsplosure, will receive:

  • a half year subscription (three issues) of All About Beer Magazine
  • a Festival Volunteer t-shirt
  • an invitation to the Volunteer Appreciation Party with complimentary food and beer
  • a chance to meet fun, new people!

Follow this link to register to volunteer for the World Beer Festival.  If you need additional information about volunteering, email volunteer coordinator Chase Bryan at wbfvolunteers.raleigh@gmail.com. 

If you would prefer to attend the festival as a patron, tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 7 for $40.  A VIP package is available for $75 per person.  Visit the World Beer Festival website to purchase tickets.

The Artsplosure Board and Staff thank you for your continued support!

And, be sure to mark your calendars for Artsplosure 2011 – the 32nd edition of the Raleigh Arts Festival on May 19 – 22.  Festival program details will be available soon on www.artsplosure.org, and volunteer registration will begin in early April.



WANTED: your input on Raleigh train routes and station locations. Don’t miss this opportunity!

March 14, 2011 /

Anyone who’s studied the economic and environmental benefits of public transit agrees that light rail is a critical factor in unclogging highways and encouraging infill development of Downtown property.  But the mapping of tracks presents a more challenging discussion.  

Mark your schedules now for the latest round of transit workshops!  

 

Sessions are planned during the last week in March in various locations around the city – here’s the schedule.

Are these workshops important for residents to attend?  Absolutely!  There are critical decisions being made that impact the track alignments and station locations within the downtown grid.

But let’s catch up . . 

First, don’t confuse the Triangle Regional Transit Program with high speed rail.  Last summer there were several hearings on high speed rail, but this project is on separate “track” literally, and won’t have any impact on the regional transit system being discussed this month. 

Last September public workshops were held, and residents were asked to evaluate the proposed rail corridors within Wake County to support a commuter and light rail train service.  It may help to review our previous post about these workshop, Don’t Let the Train Pass You By, and a recent article from Midtown Magazine, They’ve been working on the railroad.

The upcoming workshops now become more specific in identifying proposed light rail alignments (routes) within the corridor, as well as individual station locations.

The Wake County Corridor begins in the vicinity of the Triangle Metro Center in Research Triangle Park (RTP) and follows the existing North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) corridor east through west Raleigh, then turns southeast (just south of Downtown) towards Garner. 

The commuter rail portion of this corridor covers 37 miles, with faster speeds (43mph), less frequency and fewer stations.  Commuter rail is more of a park and ride transit option, where stations are being planned to include 4,400 parking spaces and 40 bus bays.


The light rail portion of this corridor will run 18 miles from Northwest Cary through NCSU and downtown, where it turns northward, continuing on the CSX corridor to near Triangle Town Center.  Light rail trains stop more frequently and stations are spaced closer together.  Click here for a sneak peak at the 20 station locations being proposed.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

The train corridor passes under a bridge at Boylan Avenue, but there’s not enough room for the light rail vehicle to fit alongside the freight rail tracks.  Here the light rail trains will need to exit the corridor for the few short miles they travel through Downtown Raleigh.  So we’re back to having to select between several alternatives, each problematic for different reasons.

Triangle Transit’s solution is for the light rail tracks to climb overhead on a long bridge, before rejoining street level.  Read the article from Indyweek.com.  Boylan Heights residents, hearing about this option, are concerned about the negative property impacts to their neighborhood.

Another option would be for the train to exit the corridor near Charlie Goodnight’s, and travel along West Morgan Street.  The Passenger Rail Task Force favors this alternative, pointing out the boost to property development along the way.  But the 3-car vehicle chosen my TTA will extend up to 270 feet long (three 90’ cars), which makes any turn north to rejoin the corridor at Seaboard Station difficult, if not impossible, due to the humped elevation over the Morgan Street bridge.  Click here to see the two route alternatives.

Sound familiar?  It’s like the high speed rail controversy all over again.

The transit and city authorities are making decisions on public transit that will determine future urban economic development/redevelopment opportunities and have a far reaching impact on our residential neighborhoods.  

The DLA encourages all residents to get educated on the issues and make your voices heard.  The upcoming workshops will allow residents to review detailed information on the transit routes, stations, travel time, ridership estimates and costs.

Don’t miss this opportunity . . . Don’t let the trains pass you by!


Litter? Graffiti? Potholes? The fix is a click away! The report card is in, and the city’s response to SeeClickFix gets an A+!

March 7, 2011 /

Many residents have traded big yards in the suburbs, in favor of downtown Raleigh streetscapes, where they walk to work or enjoy the first signs of spring in the surrounding neighborhoods.  In the past, these strolls may have been marred by tree branches overhanging the sidewalks or neglected walkways.  There seemed to be little they could do.  But now that’s changed.

Three months ago the DLA launched SeeClickFix, a new web-based reporting tool to allow residents to easily report non-emergency issues to city authorities.  Since the City of Raleigh formally adopted this tool the results have been nothing short of transformative!  Let me count the ways…

Residents have quickly begun to use the system, reporting an average of 15 issues each day.

Since the City assigned staff and began a process for managing reported issues, 527 have been reported.

The Scorecard (Jan 10th – February 28th)

1 = average number of days for the City agencies to acknowledge issues

4 = average number of days for issues to be fixed / closed

35 = percentage of issues closed within one day

More than 1 out of every 5 issues reported are in the area of Downtown Raleigh.

Downtown residents have really appreciated how this tool can make a difference in their neighborhood.  Issues that they may have tolerated for years are suddenly being fixed!

Haven’t yet used this tool?  It’s easy.  

Go to our original blog post to learn how simple it is to use.  Download the mobile app and you’re ready to go.  Don’t have a smartphone?  No problem.  Report your issue directly from our website.

And you can do much more than just submit your issues.

SeeClickFix is more than a tool to simply report issues, it’s designed for use in neighborhoods.  Residents can follow, comment and vote to get issues fixed in their own neighborhoods.  Just register with SeeClickFix here.

Once registered, all the issues you report and the comments you post will be associated with your account.  You can set up a watch area, and even use filters to follow issues reported by others that fall into certain categories (sidewalks, potholes, signs/signals, street lights, litter/garbage, graffiti, etc.).  Whenever an issue is reported in your neighborhood you will receive an email alert, and you can choose to add your comment or vote to get this issue fixed.

The DLA has set up a Downtown Raleigh watch area.  If you would like to follow all issues reported in Downtown Raleigh, just click here and “follow this place”.

The DLA acknowledges City Councilman, Bonner Gaylord, who first brought the SCF smartphone App to Raleigh, and Daniel Howe, from the City Manager’s office, for coordinating the various city departments (Public Works, Police, Parks and Recreation, Waste Services, etc.) to ensure that all reported issues are handled efficiently.

It’s often believed that urban living comes with a degree of grit and noise and inconvenience.    SeeClickFix tells a different story.  You do have a voice in your community, and now you know where to direct it!

Got a question or comment about the tool?  Contact us.  

Raleigh’s Warehouse District: Repurposed Hip in Downtown

February 18, 2011 /

Raleigh’s Warehouse District is a kind of crossroads, literally and figuratively. One of downtown’s popular entertainment districts, Raleigh’s Warehouse District blankets five-plus blocks where industrial and commercial commerce, artistic exploration, diverse dining and nightlife converge. 

Situated just south of the Glenwood South District and west of the Fayetteville Street District, this area is also referred to as the Depot Historic District and is noted on the National Register of Historic Places. For nearly 100 years until the 1950s, this part of town served as Raleigh’s railroad and warehouse distribution hub. Today, while the Norfolk Southern Railway lines still run through the district and Raleigh’s Amtrak Rail Station resides in the southernmost part of the area’s footprint, this now often-described “urban hip” locale, still riddled with immense, historic red brick warehouses, radiates an artistic vibe as evidenced by its growing number of creative design studios, art galleries and the highly anticipated, soon-to-open Contemporary Art Museum. 

 

Jump over to HelloRaleigh.com for more on the Warehouse District.

 

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑