Wake takes new look at transit options

A public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Raleigh Convention Center is the first step in identifying major travel corridors for further study and investment and providing residents with information about how decisions that will guide future transit investments will be made.

County commissioners never addressed a 2011 transit plan that included commuter rail service between Durham and Garner and light rail service from downtown Cary to the Triangle Town Center mall in northeast Raleigh. The Republican majority on the board said they wanted a more measured approach to transit.

Democrats seized control of the Board of Commissioners last month, and their platform included more focus on transit as a quality-of-life issue to relieve traffic congestion.

During Monday's meeting, transit consultants Jarrett Walker and Kimley Horn will present their plan to achieve a new vision for transit in Wake County. The process will produce two scenarios that will be presented to the public for their input.

"It's really an effort to get the public awareness about this process kicking off and how it's going to move forward over the next six to seven months," said Timothy Maloney, director of Wake County Planning, Development and Inspections.

The finished plan will be evaluated by Wake County officials, Triangle Transit and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which includes representatives from every municipality in the county.

Transit supporters hope to have a bond referendum on the Wake County ballot in 2016.

This plan is being funded by Wake County, Triangle Transit, CAMPO, Raleigh, Cary, the Research Triangle Foundation, North Carolina State University and the Raleigh Durham International Airport.