Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

 

For more information: Eric Lamb, Manager, Office of Transportation Planning, 919-516-2161

 

April 3, 2012

 

City Council Selects Consultant for West Street Extension

 

           The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously today to select Michael Baker Engineering Inc. of Cary to conduct an environmental study for the proposed West Street extension project. City staff was authorized to negotiate a contract with the firm.

 

Completion of the study is required before any federal funds can be used on either the West Street extension or Phase 1 of the planned Union Station project.

 

In February, the City Council authorized City staff to issue a request for qualifications from consultant firms for the West Street extension environmental study. City staff reviewed submitted proposals and recommended Michael Baker Engineering.

 

The City is considering an extension of South West Street between West Cabarrus Street and West Martin Street in Downtown Raleigh as part of the proposed Union Station project. Union Station would be a hub connecting Raleigh’s multiple transportation modes, including Capital Area Transit bus service; Triangle Transit’s regional bus service; long-distance bus service (Greyhound); Amtrak rail service; the Silver Star, Carolinian and Piedmont rail services; and future local and regional rail transit; including high-speed rail services.

 

The existing Amtrak Station on Cabarrus Street no longer can adequately serve an increasing number of rail passengers and must be replaced with a larger facility. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is leading a study to determine the feasibility of using a warehouse built in the 1940s to accommodate Union Station. The vacant warehouse, owned by the Triangle Transit Authority, is located on the west end of Martin Street near railroad tracks. If it is deemed feasible, the renovated warehouse would be first-phase development of the Union Station facility, which is expected to further enhance economic development on Downtown’s west end.

 

Last October, Raleigh voters approved a $40 million transportation bond issue that included $3 million in improvements for the planned Union Station project.