TTA Rail goes native
Yeah, that last $400 million from the feds would’ve been nice, but we weren’t getting it from the Bush gang anytime soon, so this just in —
Triangle Regional Rail System
To Take New Direction
TTA Removes Planned Rail System from Federal New Starts Process
(Research Triangle Park, N.C. – August 18, 2006) The Board of Trustees of the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) next week will be asked to remove the Triangle Regional Rail Project from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts Process.
If taken, the action will follow a staff recommendation from General Manager John Claflin.
“It is difficult for TTA to meet the funding requirements set by the FTA without diluting the value of the project to the community,” said TTA Chairman of the Board Carter Worthy. “The design of the Regional Rail Project is complete and over 90% of the right-of-way is secured. By removing ourselves from the federal New Starts process, we now have the flexibility to work directly with the community to develop a transit system that meets the transportation needs of the Triangle. We believe this should include regional rail.”
“Although we will continue to work with FTA on other partnerships that may lead to federal assistance in building a rail system, we look forward to exploring new options with our community, and delivering this project the way our community intended it to be built,” Claflin said.
TTA’s goal is to enhance a network of transportation options in the Triangle that includes regional bus service, vanpool, carpool and regional rail. Current regional bus and shuttle services, vanpools, ridematching and paratransit services continue to be well-received and have shown ridership increases, reflecting a national trend coinciding with rising congestion and higher gas prices.
Worthy said, “Doing nothing is not an option. Anyone who drives on I-40 in rush hour can see there is a real need. Rail is an important component to the transportation and economic development plans for the Triangle. Our number one responsibility is to meet the growing demands of our community and deliver a solution that meets long-term needs.”
TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina’s greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle.
TTA plans to implement a 28 mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549 9999.
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