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As someone who's lived elsewhere in the world where there's plentiful public transport (bus, overground rail and underground to name the most popular), the Triangle should get at least a better bus system and start building a rail network.
However, the rail network should definitely include a stop at RDU Airport and connect with downtowns of Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham.
In the five years I've been living here, the traffic has gotten worse and it will only get worse and improved buses (frequency and network) and a rail system will help alleviate traffic and allow other folk to get from A to B more quickly.
I am not adverse to paying a little more in taxes to help fund this.
I support it, however most of the stuff I've seen still leaves a huge gap in the area where most commuting occurs: north Raleigh/Wake Forest to RTP. The only rail proposal I've seen would require driving to a rail station near Capital, then riding from there through Raleigh and Cary before getting to RTP. That's just not reasonable. There needs to be an express rail line that generally follows the route of 540 IMO.
The biggest hurdle will be the perception of mass transit in the south. Many people still see transit here as something for poor people who can't afford their own vehicle. That's largely due to the fact that transit in the south is just terrible as a general rule (infrequent buses, no shelter at stops, etc.). I'm so very impressed that Charlotte got their line off the ground. That really shows you it can be done in a forward thinking, prosperous Southern city. The Triangle prides itself on being so educated and forward thinking, but I want to see some leadership on key issues like this. It looks like a first class line they got going in Charlotte, and if the Triangle doesn't get with it now---it will get left in the dust IMO. They need to be quick though--put this thing to a vote and get moving. Just get one line going (in concert with expanded bus, streetcars, etc.) and build public support on the strength of a well performing line. I do agree with needing a line from North Raleigh to RTP as well.
The thing with rail is - it will cost a lot more if you wait for the area to build up. As the area gets more built up, it becomes almost impossible to put in rail lines. And it does become impossible to do so without highly popular things like eminent domain and digging major holes into existing areas. If you think about how hard it would be today, think about what it would look like in 10 years when the area has continued to build.
The time to plan for rail is BEFORE you need it. A star system with a loop/belt would be rather effective even now.
We really must choke sprawl by building no more roads that only make things worse.
Density makes rail work.
And rail creates it's own density. Businesses and service industries (restaurant/entertainment) naturally gravitate to transit stations, creating unique, identifiable urban neighborhoods.
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