Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Raleigh

The BRT line itself, when does shovels hit the ground?

What you mean I have no idea

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Raleigh should grow and thrive around Transit, it is in Raleigh’s best interest in investing in Triangle Transit system, as more and more people are moving to the Triangle area. You’re only going backwards if Car Dependent is the way to go. Also, investment and infrastructure is not only key, but vital for a city such as Raleigh, big city or small.

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They’re is another transit bond for next year. Hopefully they’ll be a BRT line to the airport, bike infrastructure, and the whole bus fleet becomes electric or at least make sure they look like the ones we’re getting for this line. I’d also like to see the commuter rail be coninverted into hybrid rail that may improve our chances for a train. Austin ‘s system is that it’s isn’t CRT.

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I was surprised to see that they already have a 60-foot articulated bus! Wonder if these will be wrapped in the standard red GoRaleigh colors and used on busy routes until the New Bern BRT is ready - seems like a waste to keep them sitting around until then.

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Someone went to Lowes and bought potting soil.

Groundbreaking ceremonies (in general) are such a joke. Why even bother if you are just bringing in a load of dirt so some suites have something to shovel.

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That could be the only one for now, but it would be nice if they started using it now.

I’ve always found it a cute tradition, like carving a Jack o Lantern on Halloween. It doesn’t actually do anything but it’s fun.

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For projects as huge as this one, I think it’s a good way to boost morale and keep the momentum up for the project team as much as for the public between the long slog that is planning and design and the long slog that is construction. Especially since this is the first really big project to come from the transit sales tax referendum.

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Livable Raleigh getting out the pitchforks for the BRT rezonings….

That picture looks a whole lot nicer than New Bern right now…

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amen.

This is nonsense & a waste of time. The money is there. The project is funded. Preliminary construction has started.

Moreover are these people trying to argue that what is there currently it ‘better’ than virtually any alternative?

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I hate to admit it, but they are going to win this rezoning argument. Just look at the unjustified reasons the rezoning was denied off West St. and now they’ve created a task force to stop it from happening in the future.

They will use the tired excuse of greedy developers evicting low-income renters and it will stop there.

When in reality the property tax and home reevaluations spike is what will actually drive them out.

This is different than West Street…by many factors. There are federal dollars in play on this one…millions of federal dollars…& you don’t F that up.

For West Street, they can say ‘no’ today but a new council will just say ‘yes’ if the developer is willing to be patient enough to run out this council.

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The main counter-argument here, from what I’m seeing, against TOD is around people being skeptical that it will produce affordable housing. Let’s put the supply-side density arguments to the side here, cause that’s being treated the same as anywhere (too much traffic, shadows, etc.).

The skepticism in the TOD specifically is around the density bonuses. It’s an incentive for sure but we may not get any affordable units out of this as each developer can choose to use it or not. Therefore, since there is no guarantee, we have a group that’s against it.

As I’ve seen this for years, those against rezonings typically feel that by granting more allowances (more you can build) that should be done in exchange for things the city needs, like open space, developer pays for some more infrastructure, and more relevant to today is adding affordable housing. But they can’t do that as it’s illegal in this state. (to put it briefly)

So here is the division, we may get thousands of privately-built affordable units or zero.

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This public hearing is scheduled for a special meeting 1/30, 7 pm. It’s the only item on the agenda. If you have opinions, please sign up to speak. Others will.

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This rezoning doesn’t involve the BRT specifically, this is to rezone the properties surrounding New Bern up to two blocks off the BRT line.

If folks don’t come and speak for the rezoning in large numbers and state actual facts that justify it, then yes it might get voted down.

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Hey Jonathan, does that means it will likely go to a vote January 30th?

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