On Nov. 12th, the Wake Board of Comissioners heard from a panel of transportation experts who gave comments about the transportation needs of Wake County. These pre-selected consultants (who are known for their bias towards bus transit) recommended that Wake County move incrementally on transit, with expanding bus service first. One expert did suggest rail come later, as we grow. In fact, this kind of incremental process is essentially what the current transit plan proposes. While two consultants discouraged rail, they focused conclusions based on looking only at the current data without taking future growth into consideration. The Raleigh-Cary metro region is the fastest growing in the nation which means we must plan for the future. By 2035 the Triangle is expected to become a major metro area with over 3 million people. Therefore a mass transit system that includes expanded bus services, commuter rail, and light rail is necessary for the succesful growth of our region.
The consultants also failed to look at land use planning and future development plans in their assessment, focusing only on mobility. Rail and bus combined will offer commuting choices for citizens, spur economic development along rail lines, and attract industry and talent to our region. Should we wait until we are face to face with our problems before we start to plan? Next up: the Wake Commissioners are expected to propose further actions on transit soon. Stay tuned.