After a year of analysis and extensive community input, transportation planners and transit experts designed a final (still draft) Wake transit plan released December 8th by Wake County and the area transit authorities. Those attending the expo event got the first glimpse of maps detailing the four “big moves” intended by the plan: 1) to connect the Triangle region 2) to bring transit to all 12 Wake towns and connect them 3) to create frequent transit in urban areas, and 4) to extend transit coverage to reach the majority of Wake County. The recommended Wake Transit Plan will quadruple investment in bus service, create 83 miles of frequent 15-minute bus service (including 20 miles of bus rapid transit), and build a commuter rail system from Garner to Durham. This is just a ten-year plan, and additional transit extensions will take place in a future phase. Learn more about the transit plan at www.waketransit.com.
Meanwhile, a team of seven Wake civic leaders, including WakeUP’s Executive Director Karen Rindge, just completed a year long Transportation Innovation Academy. The goal of the academy was to educate and train key leaders from Wake County, Indianapolis and Nashville about public transit and transit campaigns. This was perfect timing for our region as we now prepare for a year long effort to educate and engage Wake citizens about the transit plan and the many benefits of transit. Wake County Commissioners are expected to put a sales tax referendum on the November 2016 ballot that would fund the future transit system in Wake.