Re: “DOT: We got yer Raleigh rail transit right here ...”

With the recent expansion of the Cary station, my interest in the Raleigh Station has been reignited. The use of this building for a interim station or the foundation for a more comprehensive station does make sense for me. It's location in the middle of the Wye offers access to multiple tracks and the land in between.

While the building lengthwise is oriented east-west, a concourse north south would connect the Amtrak platform in the south to the High Speed platform north of the station, and lighrail further north. Buses, taxis, and other vehicles can use land in between. Different modes can creatively be brought into interaction with each other by elevating roads over the tracks and building a more complete street grid. The distance can be overcome with escalators and moving sidewalks. (Greensboro only turns theirs on at boarding times.)

These improvements create a framework for private investment and for expansion of the station and its uses along the north-south spine. In addition to these items, the location along Martin Street, West Street and in the path of a possible Glenwood Avenue Extension, Union Station would be in a good location for transit connections to Glenwood South, Fayettville Street and the convention center.

The success of a rehabilitation project of this sort depends on maintaining the flexibility of the facility.