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Development and Environmental
Protection
In general terms, the study area poses a classic
dichotomy between the conservation of natural
landscape for water quality protection and open
space amenity on the one hand, and the pattern of
suburban growth that has spread haphazardly
throughout the area on the other. These issues are
relevant across the site in general, but they come into
sharp focus in the northwest corner of the site, where
a large 159-acre (63.6 hecteres) tract of rolling and
wooded land owned by the state of North Carolina
was actively listed for sale at the time of the charrette.
Two environmentally fragile streams that are in dan-
ger of further degradation traverse this parcel of land,
which needs very sensitive handling. However, it is
located at the junction of two freeways with excellent
visibility and good accessibility through nearby inter-
changes, making it a prime site for development.
Transit and Transportation
One of the key strategic opportunities for this area is
the development of a commuter rail transit system.
In the throes of advanced planning and preliminary
engineering at the time of the charrette in December
2001, the system is anticipated to begin service
in 2008. We were convinced that the presence of
this transportation alternative would become the
primary catalyst for development and redevelopment
throughout the area.
This pattern of Transit-oriented Development has
been widely established and proven in other parts of
America with similar growth and development condi-
tions. Denver, Dallas, St. Louis, San Diego, Salt Lake
City and other cities have seen a tremendous response
to ‘new start’ rail systems with ridership estimates
exceeded in the first year of service. The area around
Raleigh is no exception, and we wanted to use this
plan to support the credibility and attractiveness of
this rail operation. The system, as we noted in the first
case study, is planned to serve Durham, Research
Triangle Park (RTP), Morrisville, Cary, Raleigh and
other destinations with a convenient, clean and effi-
cient means for travel throughout the region.
The TTA proposes to use Diesel Multiple Units
(DMUs) as the mode of technology along the corri-
dor, running on their own dedicated double tracks.
The DMU is a lightweight, self-propelled train that
combines the long distance capability of heavy com-
muter rail, similar to Amtrak service, with the flexi-
bility to stop more frequently. Stations spaced one to
three miles apart, and the system can be built for a
fraction of the price of light rail. This technology,
used in Europe for years, is now being adapted for
use in the United States. We are strong supporters of
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commuter rail service wherever it is feasible, and we
believe in this instance that the service proposed by
TTA is a logical and cost effective start to providing a
true alternative to the automobile-dependent society
in central North Carolina. We felt that by integrating
development around the train stations as we did in
the CORE study, this Raleigh Small Area Plan could
establish this typology as the preferred pattern of
development for other stops on the line.
In terms of road and street infrastructure, the
main issues focused on resolving key points of traffic
congestion that would be exacerbated by the frequent
passenger trains at some crossing points, especially adja-
cent to the Fairground and the School of Veterinary
Medicine toward the east end of the study area. In addi-
tion it was important to create a network of connected
streets within the study area to serve the internal needs
of residents and workers without always having to rely
on the major peripheral highways to move around.