Apparently some Hillsborough residents are working to restore train service to their town. It sounds encouraging, although I'm confused that they didn't mention TTA or plans for regional rail connections.
The potential of commuter rail service returning to Hillsborough is part of a study being conducted by engineering firm HNTB, which was presented last week to town officials and residents.
Jim Kessler, an HNTB representative, explained the scope of the study that explores the possibility of passenger trains stopping through Hillsborough. The study, which began in October and will conclude in June 2008, will explore how well-suited the current rail system is to passenger service, Kessler said. It is not, he added, a feasibility study that would lead directly into restoring those services.
[...]
The study coincides with a request originated by Hillsborough resident Art Mines, who circulated a petition over the summer and presented the town board with several hundred names of people who would support the return of passenger service to Hillsborough. A formal resolution presented to town and county commissioners requests that a temporary train station be established by September 2009.
- News of Orange: Two train presentations may help movement gain steam
Issues:
Comments
One of the great
HNTB
It would be a start
Anything that demonstrates popular and municipal interest in reviving and elaborating the passenger rail system is a Good Thing, whether it happens soon or not for awhile.
Out of curiosity, does anyone have a map showing where in Hillsborough the train station is/would be?
Light Rail for Chapel Hill?
The three county 29-member Special Transit Advisory Committee, which has been meeting for the last 9 months to come up with a new transit plan for Wake/Durham/Orange, gave tentative approval today to a $2.04 billion plan for spending in the next 12 years. Final action is set for a February 29 meeting, then it goes on up the food chain to various transportation planning groups and potential funding. For Orange County, the major capital invetment is a 16.0 mile $739 million light rail line connecting UNC Hospitals to the new Durham Intermodal Station (across the street from the current Durham Amtrak Station). Service would be via a corridor across South Campus to Fordham Blvd, then along NC 54, with possible stations at the new 54E project, Meadowmont, Leigh Village (a planned development near I-40) where the line parallels I-40 then crosses it, Patterson Place, then following the 15-501 corridor past South Square to Duke Hospital and on to downtown. If this all actually happened, the line would be completed 12/31/2020. Proposed service headways would be 10 minutes at peak hour, 20 minutes midday and evening, along with weekend service. This would be similar type service to Charlotte's new South Line that opened in November
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/LYNX/home.htm
A 5.0 mile $231m extension to Carolina North and Eubanks Road is not shown as a priority for funding by 2020, but would be on a "2035 Vision Plan" for future consideration.
A New Era In Regionalism in the Triangle?
Gerry,
Thanks for posting this very concise and accurate summary of the plan we tentatively approved today. The thing I would like to point out is that this is a truly regional plan: extending from UNC Hospitals on the west to Durham, through RTP to Cary and then on to Raleigh and north along Capitol Blvd. to Durant Road. There would also be a connection from RDU airport to the system somewhere near or at Triangle Metro Center.
I went into today's meeting somewhat pessimistic that we could readily achieve consensus on a regional plan for 2020. I was especially delighted to find that our group (appointed by the two metropolitan planning organizations) had no qualms about putting aside their local loyalties to support a plan that would provide an extensive and connected public transit system throughout the Triangle. We also emphasized that this plan would begin with a considerable expansion of the regional bus system(s), including expansion of existing systems (routes) as well as development of service to unserved or underserved areas, particularly those in the outlying areas of the six counties involved.
It is noteworthy that STAC members chose to design a system based not just on cost but, more importantly, on what they believe to be the minimum resources necessary to adequately serve the entire region. I believe that we can insure the success of this initial plan (the 2020 Plan) by carefully and consistently educating the public as to the value such a system will bring to their overall quality of life and that of future generations to come.
And finally, I want to thank you, Gerry, for all of the insightful contributions you have made to our discussions over the last nine months.
Media coverage of new transit plan
Here's an N&O story on today's transit meeting
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/922670.html
and a WRAL piece with an attached video
http://wral.com/news/local/story/2393859/
George, thanks for the kind words.
Blog post?
George