JunktionFET

Amazing that $2.10 seems "cheap"

It would seem that the increased price of fuel has had a significant impact on Piedmont train ridership Ridership last month on the Piedmont train increased 58 percent over last September. "September is traditionally one of our slowest months as family vacations end and children go back to school," said state transportation Deputy Secretary David King. "But we carried more passengers last month on the Piedmont than any other single month this year." ... A recent program of track improvements has reduced travel time between Raleigh and Charlotte to three hours and 10 minutes

Since NCDOT already has those two FP59(?) locomotives in service for the Piedmont, which are sleek modern units capable of high speed (125mph wide open?), I think they should just buy a couple of those Talgo TPU tilting trainsets and run them at 110MPH on the upgraded and to-be-upgraded sections of track between Charlotte and Raleigh. Wouldn't that would be awesome? Heh... perhaps someday we will see such a investment made. Expanding existing service should be the priority for now of course. Tilting trainsets aside, the trip is already rivaling what is possible in a car on heavy traffic days. My sister's friends took a train trip to Charlotte and said that it was barely longer than a car trip they had taken a week before. It sounds like the train trip is destined for a few more incremental bumps in speed too.

I remember my introduction to Mark Mathis, and ironically it was one of the clips featured in that video. What a character.

Speaking of Mark Mathis--see this hilarious and somewhat scary video clip

How long will the thing last? Would it be worth me coming out there between 7:30-8? Raleigh-NC knows what I look like as I have met with him a number of times. I'll give him a call tomorrow to see if maybe we can have a short after party. hehe

How long is the thing supposed to run? I'd like to make it, but the earliest I could arrive would be between 7:30-8:00, thanks to work. How will UrbanPlanet-ers be able to identify eachother?

There is no indication of WNC service being abandoned, it is simply waiting for more money. The studies have been done and there would be a decent number of passengers. The towns are "on board" with the idea, and I believe NCDOT has supported the restoration of some of the historic stations along the way, and they at least have some plans for the remainder. I hope the towns chip in what they can to make this a reality. PART has worked the WNC study findings into their own rail plans--trying to find ways to link Winston-Salem with the WNC rail line. I can't find any mention of Winston-Salem's stand on this issue--whether they are behind PART's efforts or not, but chances are they at least support the endeavor (I mean, who wouldn't?). I hope W-S's leadership is wise enough to invest in the proposed extention. Such a connection would also link Winston-Salem to Charlotte indirectly, and also incorporate Lexington into the state's passenger rail system. Once more of these rails become upgraded for passenger train use, it becomes much easier to implement commuter rail too. I won't be a pessimist, I choose to be an optimist... However I will not become so optimistic that I set myself up for disappointment. If this new SENC proposal ends up spawning part of the Eastrans commuter rail system, we'll have to make a big stink that its originator hangs out here at UP

As orulz pointed out, the stops depicted are based on what exists around the proposed routes. In the case of rail, what exists in Winston-Salem along the existing rail corridor that would be worthy of a stop or a future TOD? I assume the proposed stops are a good start, but what additional stops or areas should be considered? I'm sure there is some undeveloped land that would make for a great urban village type of development (which could also double as a park'n'ride rail station). And before assuming PART has some kind of bias (which is silly), remember that PART is the one working so hard to get passenger rail service to Winston-Salem. I have searched high and low and cannot find any such initiatives from the city of Winston-Salem. Even their 2030 long range plan is just stuff from PART (old stuff I might add). PART has also worked out a plethora of possible routes to incorporate Winston in western NC passenger rail as well as SEHSR. PART and NCDOT both subsidize the Amtrak-Connector van service into Greensboro. PART seems to be one of the services that really tries to unify the Triad. Love the PART. Be one with the PART. Errr... scratch that last part.

One hub is for the BRT option, the other for the Rail option... It would be one or the other, depending on what technology is used. Needless to say, I'm pushing for the rail option. And yes, Kernersville would definitely need something special if the rail option is persued.

If it is kept as a largely undeveloped park, it will turn into another Fayetteville St Mall debacle. Raleigh is not New York City. I agree that while some of the people probably had a well thought out argument, others were there just to spout some overbearing and idealistic vision--one that they might personally never even take advantage of!

I think you and monsoon are expressing almost the same point. I find it amusing you would imply he is talking trash about Raleigh. What if this and what if that is all speculation of course. I believe that if IBM (for example) had built a large facility in downtown Raleigh instead of RTP decades ago, downtown Raleigh would be much more of a regional focal point. As he (and you) have pointed out, RTP is a blessing and a curse. Its present form, whether good or bad, has brought a great deal of prosperity to the area, and its placement helps to bond four growing cities together into a much stronger entity. The downside is that such a tasty and large slab of land (either in RTP or around it) does tend to pull people away from the cores because of convenience.

Wow. Let's take a step back and give someone the benefit of the doubt for a change. I don't believe his point was to make it about race at all. In fact, only personal perceptions of race/crime/economic status would lead someone to interpret his statement that way A very good friend of mine teaches at a school in that part of town and she has expressed some concerns about it. She doesn't feel like she is in danger by any means, but the kind of stuff her kids are exposed to and the way it affects them does concern her. You wouldn't believe the kinds of things these kids say and do. We're talking about kids who have barely hit puberty. It's crazy. Crime is relatively high in that part of the city and so some kind of positive development should occur to help balance out the equation and give the residents more diverse exposure. You need to push out the bad element but not the regular everyday people.

Oops, sorry about that. These forums seem to be overwhelmingly male, so it was just a careless assumption on my part. It's nice to see female members here

Depending on where he is in Wake County, he won't have to run far

It sounds as though the driver of the car should not have been held responsible. Choosing to ride a bike or be a pedestrian is absolutely no excuse for being stupid. If you ride around at night ignoring traffic rules and wearing dark clothing with no reflectors, then too bad. Common sense is increasingly elusive these days. I bet any amount of money that if it had been another car which failed to yeild, had no reflectors, and had headlights off, the driver of that bunk car would've received all the charges. Just because the person didn't have a motor strapped to them is no reason to ignore the fact they were being irresponsible.

I remember the stink caused by Bob Dumas (co-host of the G105 morning show). Sadly though, all the drama (including the protest in the studio parking lot) just jacked the station's ratings through the roof. Bob is a redneck and a loud mouth, and he knows that you can generate riveting discussion and ratings by expressing strong opinions and inflammatory statements over the air. At any rate, most bike riders I encounter on busy streets seem to have some understanding of basic physics. A bicycle with one person weighs ~200-250 lbs(?)--that is insignificant compared to a 3500+ lb car or 5000+ lb SUV or truck, especially considering the incredible speed and acceleration ability of a motor vehicle. Even when both parties are being equally cautious, if something gets goofed up, the bike rider will lose. I try to stay as far away from bikes as I can when driving a car. If I roll up on one occupying the same lane that I'm in and I cannot move over. I just creep along behind them--what do I care? I have a (bio)diesel powered car that churns out less than 100bhp, I can't be in a hurry Rest assured a courteous bike rider will be aware of a heavy vehicle behind them and when they have enough space to move over they will signal to pass. If you can't move your car over to another lane, at least wait for the bike rider to signal that they are prepared to be passed. I've ridden a bike in traffic ONCE and it was awful. The noise and air turbulence induced from a passing car can be disorienting if you aren't ready for it. I have encountered a few oblivious bikers in the Triangle, and that is unfortunate. On the whole, I think that Charlotte bike riders are much more "street smart" than those in Raleigh.

Okay I pondered a bit. The argument for park space by capitalapts and ChiefJoJo is compelling. The prospect of restoring an urban stream is intriguing. There is also a fair amount of available space in downtown for high density development suitable for a downtown. However I maintain that some responsible development needs to occur here. No skyscrapers, no ocean of concrete or asphault, no super big box crap. I'm picturing something classy and secluded--medium density and pedestrian scale. blueize74's suggestion of something Highwoods-ish is interesting. Maybe not a suburban office park as such, but attractive lower profile buildings with a minimal amount of tree removal and grading. My reasoning for this is that Raleigh is already bursting with park space (Pullen is across the street too!), and I would bet serious money that some of the folks who are arguing for exclusive park space never visit the city's many parks today and would probably never use the Dix space anyway Also we need to increase the number of options around the urban core of Raleigh. There will always be the high density CBD-style growth downtown as well as some north end projects like West St, Glenwood, Blount St, etc... But, how about some novel transitional development--more of a bridge between the old established suburbs and the urban core? The Dix property is perfect for this--no old people or poor people have to be pushed out of their homes and it certainly has a hell of a lot more trees than downtown. It's a great location for something different. I think there is an audience out there that desires an urban lifestyle--with all the conveniences and the proximity to the cultural center, but with the green beauty of a surburban or exurban area... I sure as hell would move there in a hot minute. How many other cities boast such developments? This land is the perfect slate to do it up right. But sure, keep a good portion of it as strictly park space--perhaps the portion that faces the downtown skyline, the aformentioned creek, or the part with the most varied terrain. I believe now that more strictly park space should be preserved than I originally thought. There is boat load of land there, and the possible configurations are seemingly endless.

Indeed this will end up being a hot issue. I can't wait for the drama to unfold!

We discussed some ideas for the Dix property a while back in this thread I don't like the 100% park idea one bit--it is a waste and just catalyses more sprawl into the outskirts of Raleigh. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a great way to generate money. Sure dedicate some of the space as a park, but use the rest as a vehicle to bring more people into the heart of Raleigh.

Ah cool, I remember seeing the name now. I knew the side I was facing was rennovated, as I saw signs and stuff for offices, etc. I didn't explore the rest of the facility though because of time constraints... plus I was still a bit stunned to see this stuff. I really need to explore around the north end of downtown more often. I haven't done so in 8 years! I love seeing creative re-use of structures like this

On saturday when I was out shooting Five Points, I explored around the Seaboard Station area and stumbled across something very cool up near the rail yard at the end of Halifax St (I think that's the name of it). There's an old mill or warehouse structure that looks as though it has undergone at least a partial rennovation, and there was this large ancient boiler sitting in the parking lot. It looks like the ones removed from the American Tobacco Historic District buildings during the phase I rennovation. The sun was setting, so the lighting conditions were not the all that favorable for these shots... At any rate, I found this contraption fascinating. To give an idea of size, that is a 4WD Toyota Tacoma in the background Inside... And one leftover shot of my arrival back home

Here's some more news--4/14/2005 On Wednesday PART agreed to set up a committee which will develop the plan to increase funding for a major regional transit system. Of course they will supplement their funds with federal and additional state money for such an endeavor, but right now the ~$2.6 million raised by the existing rental car tax barely scratches the surface. It is very good news that they are making the effort to secure a good source for local funds. The news article also has a brief description of the starter line from Hanes Mall to NC A&T, with a different set of numbers (oddly enough), and a hopeful time frame for the system to start. ----- The first segment of rail would be a 37-mile line from N.C. A&T in Greensboro to Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem that could be built as early as 2014. Earlier studies said installing rail along that corridor would cost $319 million; whereas bus service would cost $167 million. ----- The mayor of Greensboro is obviously behind the system and has urged PART to help educate the public on the benefits of the rail line and why it is important to plan ahead now ----- As the decision on whether to build a rail line draws closer, Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday asked PART to increase public awareness about the benefits of a rail system in an effort to thwart criticism he said is already developing. ----- Click here for the full article. Enjoy!

Definitely, just look at the cost projections from this 2002 article (linked above) versus the latest estimates published in the Business Journal articles. Granted the latest version is 6 miles longer, but still... I agree, and in fact it sounds like the starter proposal calls for upgrading the existing tracks and building another set alongside (see this article, again)--effectively double-tracking the corridor. I guess they figure the existing tracks are used little enough that they could reliably run regional commuter trains on it during the day without many conflicts. Buying the railroad would be a great solution though and is certainly feasible. Perhaps when and if the time comes around for this system, it will be an option worth more consideration. My sister goes to Greensboro every now and then to visit friends and do some projects. Before her most recent day-long excursion she was was complaining about having to drive, so I suggested she take the train there. Whenever she is in New York City or Washington DC she uses mass transit almost exclusively. When I suggested the train, she was like "oh yeah" and that it never occurs to her that such options exist here at home (though not as versatile... yet). She took the train from Cary to Greensboro in the morning and ended up buying a GTA Multiride Bus Pass upon arrival in Greenboro. Multiride or Day Passes are a little known treasure in the transit world. She used the pass to get from the train station to UNCG where she did some things, then took a bus to her friend's apartment. They both took the bus back to downtown to do some studio work, have lunch, etc... Finally around 7pm she took the train back to Cary. I think she ended up spending less than $20 for transportation all day, and look at the ground she covered! The Piedmont train and GTA bus took her everywhere she needed to go.

Whether or not it becomes a reality, Greensboro based PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation) has been planning a regional mass transit system for the Triad using BRT, Commuter Rail, or a combination of both technologies. PART was created by the state in 1997 and is funded by a rental car tax established in Guilford and Forsyth counties. They presently operate an express bus between Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and PTI airport. They also offer connector service to Chapel Hill Medical Center and Duke Medical Center (in Durham). For a couple of years David King, NCDOT's deputy secretary of transportation, has spoken highly of a rail based alternative in the Triad, and has implied that the state would support the development of such a system if the Triad were to become serious about it. The region would need to provide local funding of some sort, probably some sort of new or modified tax. Charlotte is cited as a good model to follow in the state. A proposed starter commuter rail line would connect Hanes Mall in western Winston-Salem to NC A&T in eastern Greensboro with nine stations initially. The cost of the initial 33 mile line would be somewhere near $400 million, and $100 million would be needed from the Triad for the proposal to have any chance of seeing the light of day. The existing rental car tax used for PART wouldn't cut it. Though $400 million sounds like a lot (and it is), it is far less than the $700 million pricetag on the 28 mile TTA system and it covers more ground than the $420 million 11 mile south LRT line in Charlotte. The proposed starter line would add a second set of tracks to the existing rail, and would probably involve the closure of several unsignaled crossings along the way. Let's add to this discussion over time, as we have with the other NC regional transit threads. Below are a list of articles I found interesting, and I hope you all do as well: http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2...14/daily33.html (Relates to Dell) http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories...ts1.html?page=1 (Long but informative) This is an older article, but it discusses the possible future for Union Station in Winston-Salem I'll try to post some maps as well as some other pertinent data later on. Feel free to post your findings as well.