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State of the Triangle <br />In the past decade, the Triangle has experienced <br />an extraordinary rate of growth. Our current <br />population is approximately 1.5 million, and we <br />can expect an additional 1 million people over the <br />next 30 years. These numbers confirm what we <br />already know: the Triangle enjoys a robust <br />economy and a high quality of life. People want <br />to move here to build businesses, careers and <br />families. At the same time, our rapidly growing <br />economy and our low density development <br />pattems have made our region one of the most <br />sprawling, auto-centric regions in the nation. <br />Our transportation system is straining under <br />cun'ent demand and far from adequate to <br />meet future needs. Residents across the <br />region express frustration with long <br />commutes, pollution, congestion and the <br />lack of transportation choices. <br />For the past fifty years, our region has relied <br />primarily on road-building to provide mobility. <br />All projections indicate that our roads will <br />become even more congested than they already <br />are. The. regions that we are competing with for <br />new industry and better jobs are already <br />investing in transit. For the Triangle to compete, <br />we need a complete, multi-modal transportation <br />system. We must take a new approach. <br />Recommendations <br />The Special Transit Advisory Commission <br />(STAG) has developed a Regional Transit Vision <br />Plan for the Triangle to provide a framework for <br />future investments. The recommendations reflect <br />the complexity of our region, which requires <br />multi-pronged, multi-modal strategies to building <br />a complete transportation system. Map 1 <br />presents three major categories of investments: <br />Enhanced Region-wide Bus Network: <br />Denoted by green lines. Expanded bus service <br />throughout the region to connect communities <br />and bring communities presently unserved by <br />transit into a regional transit network. <br /> <br />What is the Regional <br />Transit Vision Plan? <br />This plan recommends ahigh-quality, regional <br />transit system to serve North Carolina's <br />Research Triangle Region by promoting closer <br />connections between our land use and <br />transportation patterns and providing more <br />travel choices for our growing population. The <br />Vision Plan was developed by the Special <br />Transit Advisory Commission (STAG), a <br />broad-based citizen group with 38 members <br />from across the region. <br />The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning <br />Organization (Capital Area MPO) and the <br />Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan <br />Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) appointed <br />the STAG to assist in the joint development of <br />a plan for a regional transit system and to craft <br />the transit component of their respective Long <br />Range Transportation Plans, with a focus on <br />major transit investments. <br />Improvements to local bus networks are also <br />recommended; local transit providers will play a <br />key role in locating and designing these service <br />enhancements. <br />• High frequency, express service between the <br />Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) <br />and downtown Dufiam, downtown Raleigh <br />including the Convention Center, and the <br />Cary train station park and ride <br />• Rush Hour Only service to outlying communities <br />• Enhanced bus service in core areas to <br />support the rail and circulator investments <br />• A system of park and ride lots to be served by <br />the regional network and the express service <br />