Let’s engage on regional commuter rail
- January 26, 2023
- Posted by: Jacob Rigg
- Category: Blog
RTA members and partners,
At part 1 of our 21st annual meeting this week, we heard from Eric Curry, GoTriangle Chief Communications Officer, who gave an excellent summary of the status of the regional commuter rail study along with opportunities to engage.
GoTriangle has released a report on the potential for advancing commuter rail along the NC Railroad Company corridor in Wake and Durham counties. The proposed passenger rail service would help provide a future congestion-free, reliable travel option by serving existing and proposed rail stations across our region.
Several of our members with RTA Leadership Team companies and organizations — including RTA regional transit chair and chair-elect Jay Irby, RTA intercity and commuter rail chair David Byerley, and RTA workforce and mobility chair Scott Ralls — introduced the topic and the opportunity during Tuesday’s online session.
Our focus area chairs noted that commuter rail has the potential to be transformational, by connecting our two principal cities of Durham and Raleigh, linking with RTP and Cary, and bringing our region together. They also noted the significant cost of building and operating the investment, and that there is also a cost of not building it. And they applauded GoTriangle for putting multiple options on the table so that we can make the best decision as a region.
RTA supports the accelerated implementation of regional commuter rail, and we have done so for many years. We have not yet taken a position on the current proposed options.
We encourage each of our members to learn more, including offering feedback directly via the GoTriangle survey. We will also have an interactive conversation involving commuter rail among all attendees during part 2 of our annual meeting this coming Tuesday — please email Jacob ASAP if you have not yet registered.
Let’s get moving,
Joe
