News

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

RTA sends letter of support, acceleration, and request on regional/commuter rail

The RTA Steering Committee recently endorsed a letter to express our continued support for regional/commuter rail and its accelerated expansion, and to request a coordinated identification of scalable options for regional/commuter rail implementation, in concert with a Freeway And Street-based Transit (FAST) development plan.

We sent the letter this week to the leaders of several partner organizations, including GoTriangle, NC Railroad Company, and NCDOT, with the goal of helping to advance an optimal “both/and” transit solution for our growing region that will involve rail and roadway components.

RTA is requesting that our partners identify and evaluate additional scalable implementation possibilities for regional/commuter rail so as to accelerate its future. The regional business community believes that a scalable, flexible, and regional approach to commuter rail development will serve us well.

RTA is also requesting – and will help fund – a complementary Freeway And Street-based Transit (FAST) implementation framework for our metropolitan area. RTA is willing to commit a minimum of $100,000 in funding to support and accelerate this FAST implementation plan. We will also seek funding support from other area transit partners.

Register for Regional Transit Awareness day.

While RTA is pushing for the future of transit, we are also looking to elevate our community’s awareness of current and potential offerings via an upcoming gathering.

We already have more than 25 registered attendees for our first-ever Regional Transit Awareness day event, which will be held on Thursday, September 29. Attendees, which include elected officials, transportation partners, and business leaders from across the region, will experience both bus and train options as well as a series of leadership briefings in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle Park area.

Registration is open now, and space is limited. Please email Jacob if you have questions.

Interstate 42 is progressing nicely

The Triangle will experience construction on a major roadway — but it is all for a good cause. NCDOT is continuing to develop five miles of US 70 in Johnston County — which will be Interstate 42 in just a few years. More in this week’s blog.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to regional business leadership on mobility.

Let’s get moving,

Joe
RTA Executive Director

Click here for prior RTA Member Briefings and RTA Blogs.