Story by Guest Columnist | March 10, 2010 | Tags: cary, cary downtown, don frantz, NCDOT, Opinion, rail, town council, triangle transit authority, tta, Vox Populi
By Don Frantz
Cary, N. C. - The Triangle Transit Authority’s plans for regional and light rail, along with increased bus service have merit, and further planning for additional transit options so that our region is well positioned to handle the expected growth over the next 10-20 years makes sense.  Increased rail service in Cary will help to spur reinvestment and redevelopment in Cary’s downtown, and in other areas along the rail corridor.
Concern Over NCDOT’s Plan
NCDOT Rail’s current plans for high speed rail however, could have just the opposite effect. During a council work session, NCDOT Rail Director Patrick Simmons stated that the primary goals of high speed rail is “to move people”, and “public safety”. Public safety to NCDOT Rail means eliminating at-grade rail crossings and the train/car conflict. NCDOT Rail has already recommended eliminating 156 at-grade crossings between Raleigh and Richmond. That means 156 roads that may now dead end where they meet Railroad tracks – unless of course the local municipality invests millions in above or below grade crossings. Think about how many at-grade rail crossings currently exist in Cary, and how much it would cost Cary taxpayers to grade separate (bridge or tunnel) each one of them. Are you willing to bear a substantial tax increase so that a few hundred people can now get to Charlotte an hour faster than Amtrak’s current service?
Effect on Cary
Would closing crossings at Maynard Road, Academy Street, Harrison Ave, Cary Parkway and other roads throughout Cary be acceptable to you?  What sense does it make to improve an existing transportation system that negatively impacts another? Why invest so much money in a system that only 3% of the population will ever utilize?  And who will want to invest in Cary’s downtown if the majority of road access is eliminated?
The congestion on our roads and highways is not because everyone is trying to get to Richmond or Charlotte. The overwhelming majority is caused by folks traveling to and from work each day, to school, and running errands. TTA’s plans of regional and light rail, and especially increased bus service to major employment and activity centers might help in this regard. NCDOT Rail’s plans will not. You may see the majority of council support NCDOT Rail’s plans for high speed rail once we are assured that their plans will not negatively impact our community, our road network, and our taxpayers. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened yet.
In the meantime you can be assured that we will do everything in our power to ensure that Cary’s interests are represented to NCDOT. It might help if they heard from you as well. You can contact them at http://www.bytrain.org/redbarinfo/feedback/
Don Frantz represents District B on the Cary Town Council.
Liz Adams
March 10, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Don,
Please reconsider your stance. I urge you to support NC DOT’s efforts to bring High Speed Rail through Cary. The press release quote from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says it best:
“Every dollar we spend on high speed rail is an investment in job creation and in cleaning the air we all breathe,” said Jackson. “Building high speed rail will put people in North Carolina to work right away, lay the foundation for long term growth and make travel faster and cheaper – all while reducing our impact on the environment.”
Reducing our dependence on I-40 by getting more freight and passenger service on high speed rail will boost our economy and reduce highway deaths.
G Wade Carmichael
March 11, 2010 at 10:47 am
While Cary may not suffer the demise of earth at the hands of the Vogon Destructor Fleet, slicing Cary for the greater good bears careful consideration. An elevated rail could remedy crossing conflict and utilize existing right of way. If the train is just zipping through Cary, were are the economic benifits going?
Don Frantz
March 11, 2010 at 8:13 pm
G Wade,
Agreed – an elevated rail could remedy crossing conflicts. Unfortunately that is not what is proposed.
The image above is misleading as the proposed high speed rail service doesn’t resemble anything like that.
Liz,
How exactly would closing crossings at Maynard Road (twice), Harrison Ave, Academy Street, Cary Parkway, High House Rd and Old Apex Road – and the associated increase in traffic conjestion (more cars on fewer roads) – reduce traffic deaths and further protect our environment?
Hal Goodtree
March 11, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I certainly hope no one took the illustration literally.
I also did not mean to imply that by the time high-speed rail is built, Cary would be under water. Although, come to think of it…
Liz Adams
March 11, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Removing at-grade crossings will reduce traffic delays and prevent accidents where drivers ignore or are caught between the crossing gates (Maynard & E.Chatham). Providing commuters an option to ride the rail to Charlotte rather than driving on I-40 reduces traffic on what has become RTP’s version of the Long Island Express Way (a congested mess). At the public hearing on the Walker Street Extension, I asked why the ToC decided to spend federal grand money for providing a grade separated crossing at Walker Street (why this crossing and not Harrison Ave, Maynard, etc) and how the proposed crossing would accomodate the future plans for high speed rail. The ToC did receive money to provide grade separated crossings to accomodate high speed rail. Did the town plan for and spend that money wisely? I would like to attend a public hearing to learn about the plans that NCDOT has proposed to the Town of Cary.
Don Frantz
March 12, 2010 at 9:32 am
Liz,
The TOC has been awarded grant money (2 million I believe) specifically for the Walker Street extension. It cannot be used for any other project. The Walker Street extension and tunnel is a 13+ Million dollar project.
Should NCDOT Rail decide to close at-grade crossings, Walker Street would be the ONLY north/south vehicle access to downtown and other areas south of Chatham.
The ONLY way to grade seperate Harrison, Academy, and Maynard would be to lower the rail corridor as you could not bridge above or tunnel below and get back to grade at Chatham St. Walker Street is only feasible due to the unique topography. NCDOT Rail will not pay to lower the rail corridor.
Think “big dig” which would cost Cary taxpayers hundreds of millions.
Again, a commitment from NCDOT Rail to keep crossings open and impliment better safety measures to reduce the train/car conflict would probably earn them the support of council.
Don Frantz
March 12, 2010 at 9:33 am
Hal,
I did not take the illustration literally – but just wanted to make sure others don’t either
Lee
March 16, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Yes, please stand up to the NC RR. I agree speedin the trains up is a good thing, but having the NC RR wreck traffic in towns like Cary and Morrisville because they only care about reducing train car collisions one way – by closing crossings is crazy. Someone needs to show them that a compromise is possible. and that bullying people is not the way forward.