Back on October 3, 2005, I wrote a post Triangle Rail System: Just Say No. Recently, Elizabeth, a local resident, had this to say:
If you think that the rail system does nothing then what do you think is the solution to traffic on I-40 and the continuing misuse of resources to sprawl. Many a taxpayer living in a more "responsible" manner (land use wise) subsidizes the roads and utility infrastructure, of which an overwhelming per capita amount is used by people living in tract development far away. The amount of taxpayer money that goes to transit is such a minute amount compared to the amount of federal, state, and local money that goes towards building roads. A rail system would allow for long-term investments to be made along its corridor that emphasize smarter growth and the rail system will expand to serve a larger market (north raleigh and beyond) as it is allowed to. Futher prolonging the fight is what is making it cost twice as much. Even if you think you are too good to use the rail, maybe it will take some peeps off I-40 so your commute will be faster. We also need to implement HOV lanes on I-40…asap!
The problem, Elizabeth, is the plan itself, not the lite rail system. A properly implemented lite rail system would be wonderful, a benefit to the Triangle area. I would be all for it. As a matter of fact, I was for it, until I saw the development plans, as well as watching the escalating costs.
The current plan takes the rail through areas that will not affect people. They will continue to drive to work, rather then take the train. Perhaps a few people who live inside the Beltline in Raleigh will take the rail to Research Triangle Park, otherwise, the governmental studies showed few riders, and massive subsidation of the system.
There are many better ways to run it. Some have suggested that it be built along the 540 corridor. Some say it should focus on Capital Blvd first, and ignore Chapel Hill, Durham, and the RTP. But that is not what the plan is.
I do not think I am "too good" to ride it. The current reduced plan doesn’t go where I work. The original plan took it up Capital Blvd to near where I do work. I still wouldn’t take it. It would mean a 10 minute drive to the station, wait for the train, then ride for 15-20 minutes to get dropped off a 1/2 mile from the office. Instead, I can take the initial 10 minutes and be at the office.
HOV lanes would be great. However, a study (sorry, cannot find it on the web) by the NCDOT showed that it would not be effective, and would be difficult to run, so that plan was killed. I know what it is like, I used to commute from Raleigh to Durham.
To wrap up, Lite Rail would be welcome in the Raleigh. But not the current plan. Redo the plan, make it actually a viable ridership, and people would support it.
