Commuter rail line gains support: A study says the route could carry 11,000 people per day by 2022

December 12, 2010

RALEIGH -- A future commuter rail service stretching east-west across the Triangle, with stops in Raleigh along the way, gained the support of Raleigh's City Council and one of its appointed boards last week.

The council endorsed a resolution of its Passenger Rail Task Force that supports the proposed service, which is being studied by the North Carolina Railroad Co. North Carolina Railroad examined the corridor from Greensboro east to Goldsboro. It found the sweet spot in that area was from Johnston County to roughly Mebane, and a line there could carry as many as 11,000 people per day by 2022.

"This would be an excellent way to demonstrate how urban rail transit can succeed in our region," said Will Allen, co-chairman of the Passenger Rail Task Force.

North Carolina Railroad's study is similar to a current project by the Triangle Transit Authority. From its standpoint, the rail should go from the Johnston County line west past Hillsborough.

Both would use existing rails, which means the service could be available relatively soon.

Eric Lamb, Raleigh's transportation services manager, said the line to Johnston County could be in place before completion of the second half of the Interstate 540 Outer Loop.

"The idea of extending some kind of commuter rail service into Johnston County is a very good idea," said Eric Lamb, manager of Raleigh's transportation services. "A lot of people from Johnston County work in Raleigh."

 

by RAY MARTIN- Staff Writer,

ray.martin@newsobserver.com or 919-836-4952Originally published in the Midtown Raleigh News (N&O),

http://www.midtownraleighnews.com/2010/12/12/5202/commuter-rail-line-gains-support.html