News

MEDIA ADVISORY

October 23, 2019

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Opportunity Series at Duke University this Thursday, Oct. 24

Business community-led event features local and national presentations on BRT options

DURHAM, NC—The Regional Transportation Alliance business coalition, in concert with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, will host a symposium of speakers on bus rapid transit to inform regional transit efforts, including the design of five BRT lines in Wake and Orange counties and revisions of transit plans in Durham and Orange counties.

WHAT:     Local and national speakers on bus rapid transit at 2019 RTA BRT Opportunity Series event

WHEN:     10 a.m. – 12 noon on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

WHERE:   Nasher Museum of Art Auditorium – 2001 Campus Drive, Duke University, Durham

WHO:      150 elected, business, university, and community leaders will hear from:

     Guest speakers including:

• Carrie Rose Pace, Greater Richmond (Va.) Transit Company
• Corey Pitts, Montgomery County (Md.) Department of Transportation

     Local leaders including:

• Geoff Lang, MetLife, 2019 RTA chair
• Dr. Stelfanie Williams, Duke University vice president for Durham affairs
• Ellen Reckhow, Durham County Commissioner and 2018-19 GoTriangle chair
• Julie White, NCDOT deputy secretary for multimodal transportation

      Transportation professionals from:

• Town of Chapel Hill / Chapel Hill Transit
• City of Raleigh / GoRaleigh
• RTA member firms including AECOM, HDR, HNTB, Kimley-Horn, STV Inc., and WSP

For a full agenda and speaker list, visit letsgetmoving.org/BRTseries

Media attendance welcome; RSVP to Natalie@letsgetmoving.org

“There is great freedom and opportunity to approach enhanced transit differently now in the western Triangle, and I think bus rapid transit is the way to go to connect us more flexibly.”

– Aaron Nelson, President and CEO, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro

“I am more optimistic than ever about the future of regional transit. Our goal for the event is to inspire vision and action for accelerating bus rapid transit in our community and across the region.”

– Geoff Durham, President and CEO, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

“Bus Rapid Transit offers a spectrum of solutions for a variety of contexts. The regional business community would like to advance BRT regionwide to quickly deliver more transit for more people.”

– Joe Milazzo II, PE, Executive Director, Regional Transportation Alliance

The 2019 RTA BRT Opportunity Series in partnership with The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce is presented by the RTA Leadership Team and the following event sponsors:

• AECOM
• Duke University
• HDR
• HNTB
• Kimley-Horn
• Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
• STV Inc.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• WSP

About the Regional Transportation Alliance

The Regional Transportation Alliance business coalition is the voice of the regional business community on transportation in North Carolina’s Research Triangle region. More than 100 companies and 27 member chambers work in concert with elected and transportation partners through the RTA to advance mobility options for our current and future prosperity.
Learn more at letsgetmoving.org.

About The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro

The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro (The Chamber) is a membership organization that serves and advances the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill, including the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as southern Orange, northern Chatham, and southwest Durham counties. The Chamber’s network is growing with nearly 1,000-member enterprises that employ more than 95,000 workers throughout the region. Together with its network, The Chamber is committed to building a sustainable community where business thrives.
Learn more at carolinachamber.org.

About the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce is the leading economic development organization and voice of businesses for Durham. Since 1906 the Chamber has played a critical role in working with both private and public sectors in addressing challenges that face our community. Through leadership and collaboration, the Chamber engages the Durham business community, elected officials and regional partners in proactive business initiatives that foster Durham’s innovative business environment and creates opportunities for Durham and its residents to thrive and grow.
Learn more at durhamchamber.org.

Contacts:

Natalie Ridout
Regional Transportation Alliance
w 919.664.7062
m 828.371.0660
natalie@letsgetmoving.org

Bryan Fox
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
w 919.328.8724
m 919.801.4735
bfox@durhamchamber.org

Katie Loovis
The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
w 919.967.7075
m 919.696.0781
kloovis@carolinachamber.org

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