News

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

Commuter rail can link us to housing affordability
We have previously highlighted the potential for commuter rail to enhance mobility, connectivity, and housing affordability for our region. Triangle J Council of Governments has recently completed an analysis of affordable housing in the vicinity of the proposed NC Railroad Company corridor being studied for commuter rail in Johnson, Wake, and Durham counties. The study found that more than a quarter of existing affordable housing in those counties is located within one mile of the rail corridor, and identified several “opportunity sites” for additional affordable housing. RTA supports the ongoing corridor study of commuter rail, and the partnership of several RTA Leadership Team members including GoTriangle, North Carolina Railroad Company, and Triangle J COG on this initiative.

GoRaleigh gets greener
The City of Raleigh has received its first all-electric transit buses, advancing the City’s goal to transition the entire GoRaleigh bus fleet to electric and compressed natural gas vehicles. A free community event will be held on August 21 to showcase the new electric buses and other environmentally-friendly transportation options and initiatives. Several RTA transit and transportation partners including GoRaleigh, GoDurham, GoTriangle, Chapel Hill Transit, and RDU Airport have all implemented battery-electric buses into their fleet. RTA applauds these and other complementary efforts across our region, including RTA Gold member Duke Energy’s multifaceted electric vehicle initiative.

The shape of the Triangle
We know that our Research Triangle region — the “Triangle” — is named after the locations of our three tier I research universities:  Duke University in Durham, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. We also know that there is more to the Triangle than just those schools and communities, and that our metropolitan area extends well beyond Wake, Durham, and Orange counties. This week’s RTA blog highlights the upward trajectory of our extended Triangle and the importance of investing in our growing future across the region. An arrow is also in the shape of a Triangle, and our region’s arrow continues to point up.

Thank you for your membership in RTA, and let’s get moving.

Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director

Click here for prior RTA Member Briefings and RTA Blogs.