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Site SearchRaleigh, N.C. — The Regional Transportation Alliance has a new top freeway priority in the Triangle for 2010 that would reduce travel time from Interstate 85 to Research Triangle Park.
The Triangle Connector to Interstate 85 would be the final piece of roadway that would create a stoplight-free connection from U.S. Highway 1 in southwest Wake County to I-85 in Research Triangle Park.
The 1.5-mile Triangle Connector would connect N.C. Highway 147 to U.S. Highway 70.
"It will allow the Triangle region as a whole – Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park – to connect to Interstate 85," Joe Milazzo, executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance, said.
The stoplight-free route would start at U.S. 1 in southwest Wake County and run along the state's first toll road to Interstate 40, then from I-40 to U.S. 70.
Construction on the toll road is expected to be complete by 2012.
The group also discussed the importance of improving air service out of RTP and the need for a regional transit system.
As for the timing for transit, Milazzo says that depends on the economy. A new transit system will likely require a half-cent sales tax increase, which must be approved by voters.
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I am in total agreeance with you and I would also like to see a connection with that area in the Oxford/Henderson area also.
December 11, 2009 12:51 p.m.
December 10, 2009 12:02 p.m.
Hunt stole from DOT funds, and that became status quo. Ol' Bev sure won't change that either. The problem is the DOT and it's contractors. Doing shoddy work, then expecting you and I to pay for it to be repaved 2,3,4 times.
December 10, 2009 11:48 a.m.
You obviously have no idea what's happened over the last several decades with new loops and road widening going on at record pace down east in towns that are shedding population and jobs. The Triangle is far behind on road capacity in response to growth because certain eastern representatives have been busy funneling highway money to their districts when there is far greater need in the urban areas that seeing the most growth.
December 10, 2009 11:24 a.m.
I suppose you work in RTP? If not, living in Johnston county was a choice made by tens of thousands of newcomers to the Triangle, either for reasons of affordability or the location of new schools. Developers react to market demand, they don't create it. Expecting to live 40+ miles away from work, in a new subdivision far from work, with the right demographics, and not have to pay for the cost of infrastructure such as new roads, is the reason why the state is nearly bankrupt. NC has the second highest mileage of state-maintained roads in the nation, and for the last few decades been one of the fastest growing states. At some point, the system is strained beyond gas taxes and spending from the general fund. Tolls are the only other way to make up the difference, unless you want your county property taxes to do the work.
December 10, 2009 11:20 a.m.