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You're right, there is mention of an existing tunnel. I'm not exactly sure where it is or why it was even built, as based on the description it wouldn't be connecting anything. I guess maybe it was built proactively when Cary Towne Blvd was widened in anticipation of future development. Looks like there's no consideration of actually using it, and rightly so, based on the photo.
I would guess it would be close to where the plan has the proposed trail crossing CTB, pretty close to I-40. I can't think where there is that much a grade really anywhere else. Going to keep my eye open.
It's likely just east of where Walnut Creek passes under Cary Towne Blvd. That's where the planned Walnut Creek Greenay was supposed to be routed. Fenton isn't really interested in anything to do with that piece of the original routing, especially since it's not on their property. And if a bridge is built, I imagine the original plans will be revised to take advantage of that.
Thats great. So essentially, youre sitting at Bond, see the menu...walk over to Pro's, place the order, and Pro's gives you a #, then they come find you and deliver. Accurate? Thats great that they all work hand in hand, only thing better would be for the Bond folks to take the orders directly, but while convenient for the patron that would be tough on Bond. Good for them, glad they are all working together to build the community, exactly what that little downtown area needs.
Granted the weather was perfect last night but that whole area was packed when we drove through around 9:30. It was nice to see.
On another subject, light rail, rapid transit, bus rapid transit have all be frowned upon if it's anywhere near RDU airport.
Why? They lose parking deck revenue.
This is an urban legend. And this is a fire that is being intentionally stoked by anti-transit ideologues in order to poison the general public against rail transit in our area.
The reason no rail plans get near RDU airport is because light rail would have to make an four-mile detour from the rail corridor in order to get there, and the detour would traverse nothing but unpopulated wetlands and industrial warehouses smack in the middle of the noisiest part of the flight path, so there is no potential mixed use development. Building this line would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and the only people who would use it are airport employees (who are important transit customers, but there aren't enough of them to justify a rail link!)
At any rate, there is no justification for rail transit to the airport in the triangle, for at least 50 years or so - and even then, it would only make sense in the context of having an already established, multi-line rail system that connects to numerous destinations and is relied on by a significant portion of our population.
Building this line would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and the only people who would use it are airport employees
I'm not sure that's entirely true. People traveling into/from RDU would use it. I'd love to take a train from downtown Durham/Raleigh/Cary to the airport and not have to park and worry about a car.
I recently flew into Denver's airport and took the train from their airport to downtown Denver's Union Station which is a roughly 40 minute train ride. Here's a map of their rail network, I rode the entire length of the A line twice:
People would use this if it was available, but the cost is just so prohibitive.
Yes, but remember that Denver had an established, multi-line rail system relied on by a significant portion of their population before they pursued a link to their airport. Their first light rail line opened in 1994; the link to the airport opened 22 years later in 2016. They didn't insist that the connection to the airport get built FIRST THING, which is what those who have been poisoned against rail transit here by this argument are demanding.
The general public flies, what, MAX ten times a year. The business traveler who flies more often is usually on an expense account, so what motivation do they have to not (1) take Uber, which offers door-to-door service and is more expensive (but hey- expense account!) or (2) Drive and pay to park in the deck (again, expense account!)
You have to build a transit system for people who would ride it every day - at least to start with, anyway.
Please take a look over my post history. I am generally not one to promote conspiracy theories. But this lie about RDU and a rail system has been repeated so many times that it has somehow become fact in the minds of the public, to the point where any time I talk about rail transit with anybody, even generally progressively minded people, they repeat it almost out of reflex.
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