Time is Money

Tara Robbins is the Executive Director of the Midtown Raleigh Alliance, a position she has held for 10 years. She’s lived in Raleigh for 23 years and is a proud hokie (graduate of Va Tech.) Her 30 year career has been spent working in professional advocacy and non-profit managment.

Tara spoke to City Council on September 12, 2023: 

Good afternoon I’m Tara Robbins Executive Director of the Midtown Raleigh Alliance.

I’m here today, as I have been three other times urging action on the Six Forks Corridor Road improvements. It makes me incredibly sad to stand here, hearing rumors that the project might now be unattainable due to skyrocketing costs. The adage that ‘Time IS Money’ has never seemed so true.

The Six Forks/440 area has had a density overlay district on it for decades, and stakeholders always knew it would rapidly grow, needing to improve the main thoroughfare to handle the growth was going to be a necessity. That is why we started this process eleven years ago. Several rezonings were approved based on these improvements taking place! The road is a major thoroughfare into and out of the city, – now you may not drive up and down this road but 50 – 60 thousand of your neighbors do every day! There are 9 DIFFERENT ROAD WIDTHS to navigate BETWEEN THE BELTLINE AND LYNN ROAD – simply put the road needs addressed for flow and safety.

We began the effort in 2012 –The plan was adopted by council in 2016, after over FIFTY public and stakeholders’ meetings. It was a case study in robust public engagement. Phase 1 funding was obtained with the passage of the 2017 transportation bond (biggest item on the bond at $29 million), and then five years’ worth of delays, some intentional and some unseen, have left us here. We cannot abandon the project and the residents, businesses and commuters that have been promised – a better road is coming, TRUST US.

The original SFC study had many priorities but the top were easing congestion, enhancing transit, and making the roadway safer. Slapping up some sidewalks or a multi-use lane is not going to achieve these primary goals.

I’m here asking that the council has staff go back to the original study goals, look at the budget and rework the project in a manner that improves the roadway in meaningful ways. The voters approved the funding for THAT purpose, CAMPO gave us money for that purpose, and we must honor that trust. I know that greater transparency is a goal of this council – Let’s get serious folks, there are residents and business owners in the ROW acquisition zones, who are living in limbo now, this indecision and constant delays are wreaking havoc with people’s lives.

I’m asking council to schedule a work session (or two) ASAP, refigure what can be done within the framework of the original study, and make this THE transportation priority to get done.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.

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