News

Here is a brief weekly update from the RTA business coalition — the voice of the regional business community on transportation.

20,000 days
Exactly 20,476 days passed between IBM announcing in the 1960s that they would build a major research facility in Research Triangle Park, and Apple announcing this week that they would construct a new East Coast campus and engineering hub in RTP. More than 50 years since RTA Gold member IBM launched the trajectory of the Park, Apple’s investment will serve as a new catalyst for economic growth in RTP and our broader region, alongside additional recent major job wins including RTA Gold member Google’s announcement last month, with others sure to come. The regional business community will sustain and expand our collective focus and ongoing partnerships to advance opportunity and prosperity for 20,000 tomorrows. More in this week’s blog.

650,000 people
RTA Regional Leadership Team member GoTriangle has launched an attractive new website for the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study, ReadyforRailNC.com. The proposed regional commuter rail would go from Durham to Raleigh and potentially Clayton, linking these and several other towns across Durham, Wake, and Johnston Counties. The new site provides information about the project, initial study findings, recent public survey results, and excellent videos – including one that details expected population growth, which is estimated to include 650,000 new residents in the next 10-20 years. You can also sign-up on the site to receive project updates and engagement opportunities. RTA continues to support the advancement of the regional commuter rail study to identify the best way to connect our region with enhanced passenger rail service.

55 miles
The Triangle region is developing 5 bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors, including four in Wake County and one in Chapel Hill. This week, the Capital Area MPO officially kicked-off a study to extend two of the Wake BRT corridors that are currently under development by fellow RTA Regional Leadership Team member the City of Raleigh. The proposed BRT corridor will extend from Clayton in western Johnston County, through Garner, Raleigh, and Cary via the southern and western BRT corridors, and continue to Morrisville, southern Durham, and Research Triangle Park. RTA Omnia Gold member the Research Triangle Foundation and RTA are both helping to fund the major investment study of this upcoming improvement, which will expand travel options, complement proposed commuter rail, and enhance regional connectivity, by doubling the expected regional BRT mileage to open this decade to 55 miles in 4 counties.

Thank you for your investment in regional business leadership on transportation!

Let’s get moving,

Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director