http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/ The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3

http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30025 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:46:04 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30025 @Jenna: Take the train is cheaper than driving a car for just $25.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30023 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:14:49 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30023 the trainride is better than driving as well.
I have had friends ride the train down and ride back with me just to compare.

The train is the way to go.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30021 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:42:52 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30021 It looks like the final funding total is now $545M ( http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6903052/ ). Not a remarkable difference in the larger scope of things, I suppose.

That said, while this allocation alone isn’t going to be the silver bullet every mass transit lover is looking for, it’s a solid first step. We received more funding than a lot of other corridors.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30018 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:25:57 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30018 At the current IRS rate of 50 cents/mile (which attempts to factoring in gas/maintenance/depreciation/etc.), that same one-way trip would cost you 128 miles * 0.50 = $64.

How much more of a slashed fare do you need?? Increased frequency, however? Couldn’t agree more.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30017 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:57:48 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30017 Still not enough to get most people onto a train.

According to Google Maps, it takes 2 hours 39 minutes to get from the Raleigh Amtrak station to the Charlotte Amtrak station in a car. Amtrak’s website shows that the same journey by train takes 3 hours 10 minutes and costs $25.00–one way!

Until Amtrak slashes fares, or can get riders to their destinations at least as fast as cars, I don’t see rail travel picking up.

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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/comment-page-1/#comment-30013 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:36:23 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2010/01/28/nc-getting-520m-rail-upgrade/#comment-30013 The DLA is working with the City on the corridor plans, recommending that Downtown crossings be done at grade level, rather than using bridges that can cut-off neighborhoods and create privacy issues for residents living in adjacent multi-story buildings. Our research indicates that open trench crossings are preferred as they allow vehicle and pedestrians to cross at grade level, without the need for expensive tunneling.

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