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Wake Transit Drops Light Rail Plans In Favor of Bus, Train Improvements

The Wake County Transit Advisory Committee supports improving bus service and building rapid rail infrastructure.
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Wake County has taken plans for a light rail system off the table, for now.

The county's Transit Advisory Committee voted this week on which plans to present for public comment.

Jason Horne of Raleigh is on the 50-plus member committee.

"We have a duty, I believe, to give the best bang for the buck to the tax payers who are investing in this. And the light rail is significantly more expensive for the benefit that you would get when we could get a lot of the same benefit at the much lower cost with bus rapid transit or rapid rail transit."

Consultants told the committee that light rail would cost twice as much per-mile as a diesel rapid rail line. The committee will present four bus and rapid rail plans to the public May 11th.
 

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Rebecca Martinez produces podcasts at WUNC. She’s been at the station since 2013, when she produced Morning Edition and reported for newscasts and radio features. Rebecca also serves on WUNC’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Committee.
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