[2035 Triangle Regional Transit Vision Plan]

This isn't about the Regional Transit Vision Plan per say, but it is a great article on the rapid rise of mass transit use in the US and how even cities like NYC are struggling with the increases. The article also takes a swing at Raleigh (literally mentions Raleigh by name) for not putting the money and resources into developing mass transit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25010939/

Another follow-up on the national level. For the NPR buffs, last week the Diane Rehm Show discussed transit issues on her show. Broad base of people and perspectives. The facinating issue is the discussion of Federal policy towards transit compared to highways, etc. Randal O'Toole from Cato Institute will give you a few laughs of their perspective. Enjoy!

Diane Rehm Show - US Transportation Infrastructure

[Kidd's Hill/Crabtree area development]

Yeah. I agree that this is good. In yesteryear the council would have rejected this and approved 18 L-shaped strip shopping centers at arterial corners. They would have only approved a development at this site that faces uphill and turns its back on Crabtree, destroying any sense of a walkable high density node in town. Truth is, the land actually ascends toward the creek, then has a treacherous cliff down to creek level. For anything substantial to be built there without major grade changes they would have to erect a series of terraced blank retaining walls with many many stairs. The office building at Lake Boone and Wycliff comes to mind. They have that treacherous metal stairway that is so cold and uninviting. Thank goodness some developments that are unique are being proposed now.

For Crabtree to truly be "fixed", we cannot halt all surrounding development or allow a series of strip shopping centers to surround it, like South Square had. The Crabtree Village incorporates people actually living there. If the old Steak & Ale land and that behind it can be developed into something where people would actually live, it is quite conceivable that the stretch from Soleil to the Beltline could all be an elevated, walkable dense focal point, and future rail transit stop.

The State really needs to rework that Glenwood/Beltline interchange. They got away with a cheapo fixo in the mid 80's. At some point they need to get traffic bypassing Crabtree without going through traffic lights.

I have to give it to the property owner and design team for the challenges that they faced with this project and to propose high-density mixed use development for this area. I had the chance to speak with most of the people invovled and if there was a way - they would have saved this hill. we forget that traffic management is a priority - the drives that service the development were recommended by both the State and City DOT, and let us not forget that we need to have proper grading for our BIG fire trucks to move up such a landform. Ah and the city requirements for parking, let us not forget that - hence the massive parking deck where the hill used to be. Least they are going for a parking reduction.

There probably could have been a better development out of this property if there was not a lot of "requirements" that are mandated. The city would need to evaluate these requirements and rewrite new ones to encourge this kind of development.

I don't know how the state can fix the Glenwood/Beltline interchange - the bottleneck seems to be at Leadmine and Creedmore - maybe build overpasses so cars can just zoom past Crabrtee and up the hill.

[Crabtree Valley Mall]

I met up with a friend of mine begining this week. He mentioned that his office was doing some work at Crabtree....the lower level of L&T and the convience center strip. From the sounds of it that the convient center is going to be transformed where some high end Big Box stores may come. Most of the tenants that are there now will leave when their lease is up. He said that the lower level of L&T will be spaces for smaller shops and such. But he did not know of any plans to connect the center with the main mall anytime soon. Of course no company names were mentioned in our conversation.

[Downtown Raleigh's Future]

Yeah...don't think the State will be flipping the bill for another aquarium....since they are funding the 3 that are along the coastal region.

Hence the reason the State built the aquariums along the coast...to be an economic generator for the area that they are in and they are geographically located based upon the aquatic characteristics of the state. Now if only Raleigh had a water feature.

[Florida Rail Transit | Intercity Rail | Florida High Speed Rail]

From the Florida Governer's office. High Speed Rail in Florida Jeb gives the reasons it was canceled. Even if he were to be voted out today, the financial risk to the state would remain.

Florida ought to take a page from NC & Virgina and build up rail service using conventional rail then work to convert it to HSR.

Oh yes I agree. I remeber voting on the HSR Amendment when I was living in FLA. Least it was a forward thinking admendment and very ambitious on at that. Now living up in NC - it was pleasant to hear that the state has been very proactive to promote alternative forms of transit - expecially rail service. You can find out more here:

http://www.bytrain.org/