Member Briefing: June 12, 2020
- June 12, 2020
- Posted by: Joe Milazzo II
- Category: Member briefing
Here is a brief weekly update from the RTA business coalition — the voice of the regional business community on transportation.
Air travel fog persists, but our long-term objective remains clear
In yesterday’s Thursday Thoughts at 3 blog, we provided some information compiled from our friends at RDU about the precipitous drop and slow climb from bottom in air travel. Obviously, the world has literally changed since March 1, and we cannot control whether or when airlines restore individual point-to-point service from all 30+ locations that have gone away in the past few months. What the regional business community can and will do is continue to support RDU’s efforts to provide connectivity and long-term prosperity for our regional community.
In January, we announced that RTA’s top priority would be to ensure sustainable funding for essential growth at RDU Airport. Beginning this summer, we will expand that priority to focus on helping to restore the favorable conditions where essential growth at RDU can return. While the future trajectory of air travel remains highly uncertain, our organization’s view of the importance of RDU remains crystal clear.
Capital Blvd. North – the “story” continues to get better
Last fall, RTA endorsed a multimodal gateway concept for Capital Boulevard between 440 and 540. We noted that the “through” lanes, adjacent to the median, would gently rise over all cross streets, via bridges, avoiding all stoplights and potentially saving an estimated 25-50 minutes in future peak period travel times while simultaneously making it simpler and safer for pedestrians to cross Capital. The outer “local” lanes would continue to provide business access and serve cross streets via signalized intersections. The City continues to progress on both the study and its outreach to the community. See this excellent “story map” for more information – it is worth a few minutes of your time.
Thank you for providing regional leadership through your investment in the RTA!
Let’s get moving,
Joe
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director
