Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

By John Johnston
Community Development Manager
Greater Raleigh Chamber

The beginning of February marks the start of yet another great event—the WAKE Up and Read Book Drive! Throughout the month of February, WAKE Up and Read will strive to collect 110,000 books for delivery to 10 elementary schools, 20 childcare centers, and 10 community centers throughout Wake County. New and gently-used books for children ages birth through 12 years old can be dropped off at one of the many book drive locations throughout the county—including right here at the Chamber!

Donations will provide Wake County children with 10 books to take home with them permanently to begin building their own book library. One of the most challenging issues facing under-served youth in Wake County is limited or no access to books at home and throughout the summer months when school is not in session—motivation from which this book drive was created. This is a great opportunity to support Wake County children in need, and the Chamber is proud to partner with WAKE Up and Read once again.

In 2015, the book drive raised 115,000 books, solicited more than 500 volunteers, and successfully delivered books to over 7,100 children throughout the county. Last June, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading coalition honored WAKE Up and Read as a 2014 Community Solutions Pacesetter for efforts to improve childhood literacy in Wake County.

Visit the WAKE Up & Read website for more information.

 Updated: 2 p.m. Dec. 9
Media coverage of the plan:
ABC-11 Eyewitness News (WTVD)
The News & Observer Publishing Co.
Triangle Business Journal
WRAL
WUNC





By Jill Wells Heath
Chair, Chamber Board of Directors
 



Yesterday, Wake County officials released the proposed Wake County Transit Plan, built upon recommendations from a broad-based, bi-partisan advisory committee that studied the topic for nearly a year.
 
A Multimodal Approach
The Chamber applauds the robust process that involved stakeholders from all Wake County municipalities and several public input sessions. We are pleased to see the multimodal approach recommended by the Advisory Committee incorporated in the plan. It includes:

• A significant expansion of bus service
• The creation of bus rapid transit
• Plans for a future regional commuter rail line.

 
The proposed plan benefits all of Wake County and includes both immediate and long-term investments that will provide travel alternatives to increased congestion as our community grows.
 
Going Forward
The Chamber and the Regional Transportation Alliance will continue to engage the business community to develop consensus around the final plan. We encourage all residents to review the recommendations, provide feedback, and keep the conversation going. We look forward to a successful referendum next November.
 
The Chamber views expanded and enhanced transit as an important component for the continued prosperity of our growing community and a top priority in the coming year. 
 
I encourage everyone to get engaged in this community conversation. Check out the plan at www.waketransit.com and share your feedback.

Wake County is predicted to add 300,000 people to our population in the next 15 years. We want to maintain our great quality of life, and as one of the fastest growing metros in the United States, we need to plan for it now.

That's why building a consensus around a vision for the area’s transit is a priority for the Chamber. We have to ready Raleigh for the future.

Committee takes action
For nearly a year, a broad-based, bipartisan advisory group has been reviewing a variety of transit options and principles, guided by Wake County staff, regional transit partners, and transit consultants.

Last week, at the final meeting of the Wake Transit Advisory Committee, the group reviewed and compared several options and endorsed four primary recommendations to the Wake County Board of Commissioners and area transit partners. Those recommendations include: 

• A significant expansion of bus service
• A rebalancing of existing and expanded bus service to emphasize productivity
• The implementation of more than 20 miles of bus rapid transit infrastructure
• The reservation of substantial matching funding for regional commuter rail

Dive deeper into the four recommendations, get a recap of how we got to this point, and find out what's next in this blog from Regional Transportation Alliance Executive Director Joe Milazzo II. 

​Moving our community forward, together
This process has been purposeful and focused and participants have been dedicated to the success of the effort and our community. Thank you to the members of the transit advisory committee their work and to the Wake County commissioners for their leadership. 

Be on the lookout for further information and commentary from the Chamber and RTA in the coming weeks and months.