News Alerts

A new car sharing program is now available for Wake residents.  WeCar is a membership-based car sharing program for people who are looking for an alternative method of transportation that lowers the cost and reduces the hassles of traditional transportation.

'Fast train route could detour Raleigh's scene' - Bruce Siceloff - N&O - July 11, 2010 - READ MORE

Controversy involving the future route of a new high speed rail line through downtown Raleigh continues to grow.  Learn more 

Falls Lake, Wake's main drinking water supply, is badly polluted and Wake citizens are concerned. The State Environmental Management Commission recently held public hearings in Durham and Wake counties in efforts to collect public input on the Falls Lake Rule Process.  WakeUP Wake County was well represented at both Falls Lake Public Hearings in Durham and Raleigh. WakeUP executive director, Karen Rindge, water team member, Tina-Motley Pearson, and student intern, Andrew Campbell alongside other WakeUP members strongly urged the State to clean up Falls Lake quickly, without delay. WakeUP also spoke in favor of stronger development standards in the watershed and supported Low Impact Development practices that have the potential to protect Falls from future polluted stormwater runoff. Mayor Meeker, Raleigh City Councilor Russ Stephenson and representatives from the Sierra Club, Wake Audubon Society, Neuse River Foundation and the Southern Environmental Law Center also gave remarks in favor of expediting the cleanup process and implementing stronger development standards.

• Karen Rindge - Testimony, WakeUP Wake County
• Andrew Campbell - Testimony, concerned students of the Triangle
• Tina Motley-Pearson - Testimony, WakeUP Wake County Water Team

According to U.S. Census figures released June 22, 2010, Raleigh and surrounding Wake County municipalities continue to experience high growth rates, despite the economic recession. In 2009, Raleigh's population climbed above 400,000 people, positioning the city as the 45th largest in the nation. Other Wake municipalities, including the Town of Cary, which added an additional 8,000 residents (total 136,600), experienced comparable growth in 2009. As Wake's population continues to expand, water, transit, and landuse challenges remain at the forefront for residents concerned about maintaining a strong quality of life. Falls Lake, Wake's central drinking water supply is under scrutiny by the State Division of Water Quality, which is currently writing rules that will define the scope and effectiveness of future cleanup and conservation efforts.

A high speed passenger rail line will connect Raleigh to Washington D.C. to the north and Charlotte to the south in the near future. Plans are underway to finalize the route and new challenges surrounding track interface with Downtown Raleigh have emerged. Route Option 1 would allow construction along existing CSX tracks that branch to the west of Capital Blvd, north of Jones St. and Option 2 would direct trains to the east of Capital. Read more about concerns surrounding pedestrian and vehicular connectivity, and preliminary construction cost estimates in Bruce Siceloff's recent article in the N&O titled 'Tracks might divide Raleigh'.

A new study released yesterday, says that by 2022 the state-owned N.C. Railroad could serve at least 3 million riders a year in commuter trains on its 140-mi. line between Greensboro and Goldsboro. Commuter trains use conventional diesel locomotives to carry suburban residents during rush hour periods to jobs and universities in urban areas.  A commuter rail line running between Goldsboro and Greensboro would link a corridor containing 18 colleges and universities, effectively reducing congestion and improving air quality.  Read more about the study in Bruce Siceloff's article, 'Study: Rush-hour rail could ease commuter crunch'.

Today WakeUP Wake County's Executive Director, Karen Rindge, presented testimony before the NC Legislative Commission on Urban Growth and Infrastructure. WakeUP was invited to provide recommendations for state action for good growth planning and discuss how WakeUP works. WakeUP's recommendations included: support for transit, drinking water conservation, better controls on stormwater pollution, fair growth funding mechanisms for schools (including transfer tax, impact fees and adequate public facilities ordinances), and diversified housing options. Rindge also explained the mission of WakeUP Wake County. CLICK HERE to read Rindge's testimony.

A poll released this week indicates that 58% of voters in Wake, Durham and Orange Counties are willing to pay a half-cent sales tax to fund a regional transit system of expanded bus and rail.  Voters also said that travel between the Triangle counties should be the highest priority for public transit, as well as travel to RTP.  The poll was conducted in March for the Regional Transportation Alliance.