By Joe Milazzo II, PE
Executive Director
Regional Transportation Alliance
Thursday, the campaign to pass the fall Wake transit referendum held its kickoff event at Shaw University.
The approved transit plan for Wake County envisions a dedicated, locally-controlled half-cent sales tax as its primary local funding source. The voters of Wake County will decide on the sales tax in a November 2016 referendum.
The four co-chairs for the campaign, listed below (pictured above), spoke this morning about the benefits of enhanced transit in our market:
However, if they were to summarize the primary goal and benefit of the approved Wake Transit Plan, it would simply be this: the plan provides more transit—that is, more travel options—for more people, more quickly.
Many groups, businesses, and educational institutions—including the Regional Transportation Alliance business coalition—have endorsed both the plan and referendum. Join us in endorsing the referendum if you have not already done so.
We urge you to vote for the referendum, for enhanced public transportation, and for your community and region’s future this fall.
- Tashni-Ann Dubroy, President, Shaw University
- John Kane, CEO, Kane Realty
- James Roberson, Mayor of Knightdale
- Mark Stohlman, Mayor of Morrisville
However, if they were to summarize the primary goal and benefit of the approved Wake Transit Plan, it would simply be this: the plan provides more transit—that is, more travel options—for more people, more quickly.
Many groups, businesses, and educational institutions—including the Regional Transportation Alliance business coalition—have endorsed both the plan and referendum. Join us in endorsing the referendum if you have not already done so.
We urge you to vote for the referendum, for enhanced public transportation, and for your community and region’s future this fall.
More About the Approved Wake Transit Plan
The Wake County Board of Commissioners, the Go Triangle Board of Trustees, and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization all unanimously approved the new Wake County Transit Plan in spring 2016.
The approved, bipartisan plan calls for the creation of an enhanced and improved regional transit system serving all of Wake County in a scalable, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
We can likely identify a number of goals for enhancing transit in this market, or any growing region for that matter. They might include:
Here is a simple chart that compares our current situation in Wake County, and the corresponding element of the plan:
Our situation Approved plan
High growth market Rapid expansion
Growing traffic congestion Peak relief
Dispersed county, region Network approach
Inconvenient travel options Frequent service
Limited funding Scalable system
Rapid technology change Short-term completion
Each element in the approved plan is a strong benefit for our region. Taken together, they comprise a strong response to the challenge of growth and congestion in our market.
The approved, bipartisan plan calls for the creation of an enhanced and improved regional transit system serving all of Wake County in a scalable, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
We can likely identify a number of goals for enhancing transit in this market, or any growing region for that matter. They might include:
- Create alternative to driving, congestion, parking
- Increase travel options as we continue to grow
- Expand access to jobs, healthcare, education, civic life
- Focus land use, support sustainable/walkable development
- Attract/retain talent in our growing community
Here is a simple chart that compares our current situation in Wake County, and the corresponding element of the plan:
Our situation Approved plan
High growth market Rapid expansion
Growing traffic congestion Peak relief
Dispersed county, region Network approach
Inconvenient travel options Frequent service
Limited funding Scalable system
Rapid technology change Short-term completion
Each element in the approved plan is a strong benefit for our region. Taken together, they comprise a strong response to the challenge of growth and congestion in our market.
Let's Get Moving
More information about the benefits of the plan and referendum is available at letsgetmoving.org/waketransit. Thank you for your support of regional mobility, and thank you for supporting the referendum this fall.
This blog originally appeared here on Sept. 8.
This blog originally appeared here on Sept. 8.
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