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Recommendations
Figure 5.13 Qualitative Service Assessment of Public Transportation Service Options
Option
Cost/Benefit
Feasibility
Service
Quality
Performance Ridership
Fixed Route Case Study*
n
Deviated Fixed Route
n
Limited Deviation Fixed Route
n
n
Increase Funds to Wake TRACS
Cooperate with C-Tran to Expand Services Into Morrisville:
Cary Parkway/Weston Parkway (planned)
NC 54 (north-south) (potential future route)
Airport Boulevard (east-west) (potential future route)
Notes:
* Refers to a fixed route run independently by the Town of Morrisville. See Appendix H for details.
Factor
Definition
Cost-Benefit
The potential benefits compared to the costs of starting the service in years 1-3
Feasibility
The constructability and staff requirements to implement
Service Quality The timeliness, reliability, and frequency of service
Performance How well the service performs financially
Ridership
The potential ridership of the service
Legend:
n
= Neutral
= Positive
= Negative
More dots = more impact
Positive/negative impacts are from
the perspective of the Town.
Figure 5.14 Public Transportation Recommendations
SHORT-TERM
(1-3 YEARS)
Issue an RFP to conduct a detailed study to determine the most cost-efficient transit service that meets the needs of
Morrisville residents and businesses. The focus should be on creating a service agreement between the Town of Cary to
expand C-Tran service into Morrisville at a pace that synchronizes with the Cary planned improvements. Coordinate
stops in Morrisville along planned Cary Parkway/Weston Parkway route.
Ensure integrated land use-transportation design now that includes strong pedestrian, cycling, lighting, and stop design
standards to accommodate public transit services in the identified corridors.
Increase participation in the Wake County TRACS Service to accommodate additional riders only as needed. Currently,
there is not a need to expand the number of guaranteed seats beyond the current three.
Initiate a universal pass for Town employees, and work with selected businesses to provide discounts for their employees
who use public transportation, carpool/vanpool riders, and bicycle/pedestrian commuters. Work with Triangle Transit to
coordinate this effort since they offer this type of service for free.
Work with Triangle Transit to improve the NC 54 corridor to accommodate the 301 route. Triangle Transit has suggested
that it is willing to relocate this route off I-40 to NC 54. Identify stop locations and finance shelters and pedestrian facilities,
lighting, and other improvements to these locations.
North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) has suggested that there should be a 1/4-mile “buffer” of lower-density and
non-residential uses in the vicinity of the railroad tracks to address risk from the transport of hazardous materials on the
railroad. However, in some locations this advice is impractical or already behind the pace of development. The Town
should work with the NCRR and Norfolk Southern Railroad Companies to develop a hazardous waste transport safety
plan that includes the following elements: designation of a safety officer and points-of-contact within each agency
(Town and railroads); work with the railroad companies to discourage any storage and minimize the idle time of train
cars or sets in Town; review and evaluate, annually, critical transportation and other infrastructure and procedures to
ensure that determine the level of information that should be supplied to the Town on a regular or special basis regarding
scheduling of hazardous waste, respecting the fact that access to such information is extremely sensitive; identify primary
evacuation routes and communicate whenever these routes are temporarily closed due to construction or breakdowns;
establish a regular schedule of communication between the Town officials and railroad company executives to provide
a regular information sharing collaboration between the Town and railroad companies to create risk-based assessment
strategies and minimize risk from hazardous materials transport; as densities increase in the area, perform annual security
exercises and use the results to modify and improve security plans; and as regional rail becomes a viable option, ensure
that rail stations and facilities have proper security protocols in place for employees and staff.
MID-TERM
(3-10 YEARS)
Continue to work with Triangle Transit and other regional partners to develop a circulator route between Durham, Re-
search Triangle Park, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Explore possible future routes with C-Tran, including a north-south route along NC 54 and an east-west route along Airport
Boulevard to connect the growing northwest area of Cary with south RTP and RDU International Airport. An alternative
routing (or second east-west route) could occur along Aviation Parkway to reach the Town Center area, RDU, and Lake
Crabtree.
LONG-
TERM
(11-20
YEARS)
Continue to work with Triangle Transit and the North Carolina Railroad Company to support passenger rail service. Po-
tential station locations are identified at McCrimmon Parkway, Aviation Parkway, or Cary Parkway. The Town needs a
detailed study closer to the time of implementation in order to choose a specific location. The station should be a benefit
to Morrisville residents. Land use considerations must account for the fact that this line occasionally carries hazardous
waste and AMTRAK service, and is planned to carry high-speed rail service at some point in the future.
Definitions of Transit Services
Fixed Route:
Transit service that follows a fixed timetable and serves a routine set of stops.
Deviated Fixed Route:
Transit route follows a set of scheduled stops, but also services addi-
tional stops as they are called in to the dispatcher.
Limited Deviation Fixed Route:
Transit route that follows a set of scheduled stops, but also
services a subarea or point on demand as determined by calls into the dispatcher.
5.3 Public Transportation, cont’d