I do not think I agree with the U-shaped tunnel concept. I think a single stop located on the walkway between T1 and T2 is enough (put it closer to T2 which is busier; the moving walkways and pleasant environment of the walkway through the parking deck make the 1000 foot walk from T2 to T1 seem short.) and for the cost of building a U-shaped tunnel with separate stations at T1 and T2, you could probably build a busway that goes through the airport on a North-South axis that connects with 540 and 70 on the north, and 540 and 40 on the south. RDU may not make much sense as a stop on a Durham-Raleigh route, but it does make sense as a stop on a Triangle Town Center-RTP or Crabtree-RTP route, and this would make that possible.
2 Likes
@keita Well, it seems as though the concerns for having to re-permit the process will not have to be done.
There is a connector in place between the L2-ALT Ground Transportation Center (which will be for T1) going around to the L1-ALT Ground Transportation Center (for T2). So, the U-shaped loop is part of the RDU Vision 2040 plan after all. (It wasn’t so clearly laid out in the original scoping document in 2016).
And, the L1-ALT does not appear to be a new piece of construction. There is just going to be a recycling of the structure already in place (‘T2 GTC Modification of PG1/PG2’). Well played, RDU. Well played.
That being said, it still doesn’t mean that the lower level couldn’t be refitted for LRT at some point in the future. And, after the CONRAC is in place, the next big $$ question is what will they do with the ground vacated by the rental car lots? Can we say, ‘AIRPORT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER’
Once the car lots are cleared, then it leaves a blank canvas to run a tunnel up the middle aligned with the median of Airport Boulevard before building the hotel over the top of it.
6 Likes
Because I never need an excuse for pretty transit pictures. Especially Airport-Rail Links.
Two of my all time favorite bucket list airport rail stations are,
Frankfurt-am-Mein Flughaven:
Charles de Gaulle/Roissy Aeroport:
5 Likes
We spend our tax $$ on aircraft carriers, bombs, and war. 54% (2015) of US discretionary budget goes to defense - over $750,000,000,000.00 (That’s with a B). Now the war at the Mexican border.
Denmark 4%
Sorry. Off topic, my apologies.
9 Likes
Until we get some sort of rail to RDU, can anyone tell me how the bus is from RDU to DT?
The information online is confusing, and there’s some suggestion that the bus doesn’t run on weekdays. When I use Google maps and ask for transit from RDU to Raleigh, it maps it to Durham.
I did see that the cost was $3.50. Does anyone know if that’s correct? If so, does anyone know how to pay for it? Do I just swipe a credit card before boarding, use cash, or do I have to buy a ticket somewhere?
I’d really like to try the bus and see how it is vs. always dumping money into an uber. Any help out there?
1 Like
I’ve used it a few times and I feel it was pretty easy. At the same time, there are a few ways to mess up and it’ll make your experience a bad one.
First, the GoTriangle 100 bus stops at the RDU terminals at the MIDDLE of it’s route. That means, you must ask the bus driver if they are heading to DTR or RTP. I’d hate for someone to find the bus but get on when it’s actually heading away from DTR.
You can track the bus here: 100: Raleigh-RDU Airport-Regional Transit Center » GoTriangle » GoTriangle
More detailed timetables: Maps & Schedules | GoTriangle
It runs 7 days a week so that info is false.
The link above also says it is $2.25. I believe they do not take cards on the bus itself so cash and coin. I typically dump change for bus fare on the rare times I actually use GoTriangle. I am not sure if my GoRaleigh refillable card (which I do at the GoRaleigh station) can be used here.
Someone should think about the first time use experience as I feel there is a little bit too much planning ahead of time to make the bus use at RDU an easy one.
7 Likes
Well, people moving here from bigger cities aren’t going to leave because of traffic. If someone commutes into NYC or Miami and then moves to the Triangle, they will consider Raleigh traffic to be a breeze. If LA’s growth didn’t slow down because of traffic, I don’t think Raleigh’s will. As long as real estate is relatively affordable (compared to other tech centers) and the economy is strong, growth will continue.
EDIT: However, I want to be absolutely clear that I want a robust transit system built. Transit is very important for quality of life, particularly for people who can’t afford a car and you’re right, having a strong transit system would be an economic asset for attracting talent and companies.
6 Likes
Thanks Leo. Are there really only a few stops on that route per the link? If so, I suppose that I’ll have to take it all the way into the GoRaleigh station and walk to the nearest RLine.
There are tons of stops for the 100 between downtown Raleigh and the freeway section of Wade Avenue where it runs express to RDU. They just don’t have all the stops listed on the schedule. If you ever go on Google Maps and click the bus stop symbol, you can find what buses stop at which stops.
Also you cannot use the GoRaleigh cards on the GoTriangle routes.
2 Likes
The Transloc link shows all the stops. There are lots along Hillsborough Street so it could be a little slow going down that stretch but if its not that bad, kind of how the bus works. I still think it’s a great value.
2 Likes
Taking down to the Moore Square station then either Citrix Cycle or R-Line back to Glenwood S side of town is what we’ve done.
1 Like
Thanks again. I think that I can can just walk from the Hillsborough/Boylan stop.
3 Likes
I use it all the time since I rent cars on the weekends.
Good:
-
Generally on time.
-
That’s about it.
Bad:
-
Cash only (I guess GoTriangle cards work, idk)
-
GoRaleigh Bus Cards do not work on GoTriangle busses.
-
There’s no ticket machine in RDU.
-
If there was a ticket like in GoRaleigh Station, the ticket machines don’t offer one-way GoTriangle bus passes so you have to buy the Regional Day Pass which is $4.50 instead of a one-way ticket at $2.25.
-
Exact change only or you get a paper ticket with a coin amount that you overpaid.
-
Uber drivers block the bus stop area so who knows where the bus is going to stop.
-
Is this my bus, it says 100? Surely this is my bus? NOPE. This one is heading to the Regional Center and NOT DOWNTOWN! Wait some vague minutes for the next bus that will take you to Downtown Raleigh!
3 Likes
Do they take bills and coins, or only coins?
Bills and coins. I don’t use cash so it’s a bummer when I forget to get cash in advance and have to use the ATM and then Starbuck at RDU to get the exact fare needed to use the bus.
One thing that I do personally as an infrequent rider is buy one of the Value Cards and keep it in my wallet so I don’t have to have cash on hand if I ever need to take the bus: Fares & Passes | GoTriangle
You can jump on the 100 towards the airport right in front of Char-Grill. You could take the R-line to Char-Grill of walk up there.
Nm. see that you found that already. I walked to take the bus to the airport a few times when I was at the Devon on Tucker St.
2 Likes
I often take the GoRaleigh Bus no. 100 to RDU it does run on Saturdays, when catching a flight to say NYC or LA I leave at 6:00 am that when the first Bus runs to go to the Airport. You may want to look up the Go Triangle web site and look for schedules that run on Monday to Friday and Saturdays. I save on average of 100 dollars rather than taking a Uber, unless heading home from a trip. Note : it would be best to get a Regional Day Pass ( 4.50 ) from either the Bus Driver ( 100 ) or at GoRaleigh Station when coming back Bus Stop is at Terminal 1 and 2 make sure YOU stay at stop so the Bus Driver sees You sometimes they will drive right by the stop. It gets annoying when Drivers block the bus stop as it often happens, But Overall it is not that bad, rather than Uber. I only hope that they make improvements to theses Buses and schedules.
Honestly, this whole complaining about the GoTriangle 100 buses being hard to find at airports seem like pretty low-level and simple problems…
Why not just have two different stops (one numbered curb area for buses to the RTC, and another to downtown Raleigh), and only allow Uber/Lyft vehicles to stop at designated areas (and have a cop or two guarding the bus curbs to ticket them if they violate that; cops could double as guides for first-time visitors to proper transit options)?
Combine it with subsidized transit for airport arrivals, and you’ll get what Boston-Logan already does.
1 Like
Well…I don’t think that I was complaining, just that I use the Go Triangle 100 bus to the airport instead of driving or using an Uber/Lyft when catching my flight. But they should have Uber/Lyft drivers have a designated spot of their own instead of blocking Bus Stops. Just a thought. 