Wake commissioners to talk transit on Tuesday

Wake County Commissioners will finally talk transit, but not in the way some people would guess.

At their regular meeting on Sept. 3, Commissioners will consider Commissioner Paul Coble's plan to hire two groups of consultants that would create a new transit and transportation strategy.

Coble has previously refused to discuss a proposed transit plan created by Triangle Transit that would be funded by a countywide half-cent sales tax.

Coble suggested the new approach at the end of the Commissioners' regular meeting Aug. 19. His comments weren't specifically listed on the agenda and he spoke during the "other business" portion of the meeting.

Coble suggested hiring three national transit and transportation experts who would create a panel to answer a series of questions based on three components: feasibility, financial practicality and governance.

The panel would take the county's needs, infrastructure and communities into account and offer an unbiased opinion, Coble said.

The recommendations from the panel would be used to create a Request for Proposal for a consulting company that would create and design a strategic transportation plan.