Research Triangle Park, N. C. - The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) will hold its final round of Station Cluster Planning meetings on the “Art in Transit” program in Durham, Cary, Research Triangle Park (RTP), and Raleigh beginning Monday, November 10, 2003. At the upcoming meetings, TTA will report on station elements and artistic impressions preferred by neighborhoods near the system’s planned regional rail stations and the ways those elements may be used.

TTA held its first two rounds of Station Cluster Planning meetings on the TTA “Art in Transit” Program in September and October. Over 250 Triangle residents attended the meetings to share their reflections on neighborhood characteristics and how those unique qualities and history could be reflected.

In addition, this month’s meetings will develop further the system’s common themes and how preferred artwork might reflect an "artistic ribbon" between the 16 rail stations. Participants can view a 40-second animated “virtual tour” from the perspective of a TTA rider, highlighting the various ways artwork may be integrated into each rail station.

Since a light meal will be available, TTA asks that people RSVP for the cluster meetings at
(919) 485-7519. People who attended any of the previous “Art in Transit” meetings are encouraged to participate. The TTA Board will receive a full report on all “Art in Transit” meetings at a later date.

Cluster                                                            Date
Durham #1 @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                          Nov. 11th
Durham #2 @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                          Nov. 13th
RTP cluster @ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.                 Nov. 10th
Cary cluster @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                         Nov. 12th
Raleigh #1 @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                           Nov. 19th
Raleigh #2 @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                           Nov. 20th
Raleigh #3 @ 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.                           Nov. 18th

Clusters Stations/Meeting Locations
Durham #1 Duke Medical Center & 9th Street Stations – cluster meetings at Duke Center for Documentary Studies, 1317 Pettigrew St., just east of Swift Avenue intersection, Durham. Park in far back lot, follow signs.

Durham #2 Downtown Durham & Alston Avenue/NCCU Stations – cluster meetings at Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., corner Fayetteville St. & Lakewood Ave., Durham. Park on street or shopping center lots.

RTP Cluster North RTP & Triangle Metro Center Stations – cluster meetings at IBM Employee Fitness Center, 9 Davis Dr., 1st drive on right after crossing Cornwallis Rd., make immediate left at first drive into parking lot.

Cary Cluster Northwest Cary & Downtown Cary Stations – cluster meetings at Page Walker Arts and History Center 119 Ambassador Loop, next to Town Hall, Cary. Parking in Town Hall lots.

Raleigh #1 West Raleigh, State Fairgrounds & NC State University Stations – cluster meetings at Jane McKimmon Center, enter off Gorman St. just south of Western Blvd., Raleigh. Ample parking is available at site.

Raleigh #2 Downtown Raleigh & Government Center Stations – cluster meetings at Raleigh Urban Design Center, 133 Fayetteville St. Mall, First Floor Alexander Bldg., corner of Hargett St. & Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh. Use on street parking.

Raleigh #3 Highwoods, New Hope Church Road & Spring Forest stations – cluster meetings at Millbrook Exchange Community Center, 1905 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh. Ample parking on site.

In late 2002 the TTA Board of Trustees approved a TTA “Art in Transit” Program and authorized a budget of up to $800,000, already in the rail project budget, for art for the Regional Rail System. Planning for the TTA Regional Rail Project has been underway for more than a decade. To date, the TTA Board has approved the development of a Regional Rail system supported by shuttle and local bus service. This service, planned to be operational by 2007, would use self-propelled, bi-directional, diesel rail cars using the existing railroad rights-of-way to connect Durham, RTP, Cary, Raleigh and North Raleigh. The costs for construction are approximately $724 million (2002 dollars). This service is expected to carry about 28,000 daily riders by 2025. The Final Environmental Impact Statement has been approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the project is in the final design stage.

The Regional Rail System is 35 miles long and includes 16 stations from Duke Medical Center in Durham to Spring Forest Road in north Raleigh. The Regional Rail system will run in the existing railroad rights-of-way primarily on its own exclusive new tracks. The first 12 stations are expected to open in late 2007 or early 2008, with the final four stations projected to open in 2011.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on-line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle. TTA plans to implement a 35-mile rail transit system with 16 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2007 or early 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919)549-9999.