Transit to RDU

A consultant has told members of a joint Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority-Triangle Transit Authority committee that there just isn't a market for regional rail service connecting to RDU International Airport. The finding seems counterintuitive: Local plane boardings last year went up at RDU, despite lingering effects of 9/11. Parking can make car trips to RDU as much fun as extensive dental work. And while some Cary and Durham residents can whisk to the airport in 15 minutes even during rush hours, most people in the Triangle live far enough away that a reliable, relatively cheap ride to RDU would seem like a dream. Yet the consultant's study deserves close attention. Engineering experts PBS&J of Charlotte concluded that even a sophisticated transit system linked to RDU would attract only 1,700 riders a day by 2025, and would cost $157 million to $578 million. Those numbers aren't likely to dazzle the federal government, which puts up the largest share for mass transit projects.

Members of the joint committee say they should work at marketing an existing shuttle bus service to RDU. That would be effort well spent. About 50 travelers a day use the route that is operated by the transit authority (which is building the regional rail line, the first phase of which is set to begin operating in 2007).

Members of the joint committee say they should work at marketing an existing shuttle bus service to RDU. That would be effort well spent. About 50 travelers a day use the route that is operated by the transit authority (which is building the regional rail line, the first phase of which is set to begin operating in 2007).