The outgoing Raleigh mayor is concerned about his legacy. Troubled by the growing population and growing traffic problems, the mayor has decided to make rail transit his top agenda. The strategy is to create a rail line with numerous, 1-mile in diameter, dense, new developments.

This concept, known as a “string of pearls” in planning circles, aims to get people out of their cars, and into efficient trains. “If the developments have the right mix, it is conceivable that one could need a car only when they leave town,” said city staffer Diane Toluvia.

This futuristic concept, the mayor claims, would be his biggest legacy to his city. “If I could be remembered as ‘the guy who gave Raleigh a pearl necklace’, it would be my greatest legacy and something my family could cherish for decades to come.”