A citizen task force on passenger rail service voted 8-1 today to endorse the Norfolk Southern Railway corridor, on the west side of Capital Boulevard, as the path for proposed fast-train service between Raleigh and Richmond, Va.
Norfolk Southern has lobbied against this option, contending that it will disrupt the railroad's freight yard, hurt its customers and hurt residents of the nearby Five Points neighborhood. Spokesmen for two Norfolk Southern freight customers, Cargill and Golden State Foods, criticized the proposal at a public hearing Monday in Raleigh.
The alternate path considered by the state Department of Transportation would route the new passenger trains through a CSX corridor from Jones Street to Wake Forest Road on the east side of Capital Boulevard.
The City Council will consider the Norfolk Southern recommendation at its Aug. 3 meeting.
Some residents have criticized the DOT proposal to close all at-grade rail crossings, turning some into dead-end streets and converting others to bridges.
Will Allen III, co-chairman of the city council's advisory task force, said task force members agreed today that safety was important, and they endorsed the DOT proposal to close the Jones Street and Fairview Road crossings on the Norfolk Southern tracks.
The group will recommend that DOT take other steps to ease the effects of closing the crossings.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the 
Comments
Davis Elementary School students play on the train tracks
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 00:28 — BigMonsterDavis Elementary School students play on the train tracks near the school on davis drive in cary. I reported to the principal and she responded with words I cannot post.
Sure, lets put fats trains thru there. I drive by the school to get to Home Depot & Lowe's & Target in Apex.
N&O. Why don't you go park on Davis from 3-4pm and watch the habits of the students as the are released from school.
I don't know if the train tracks going west from davis provide a short cut. But students use it and the cops do nothing. A cop car is stationed there for some reason.
Another NIMBY issue....
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 17:41 — AgentPierceAs always ..... a NIMBY issue. Railroad tracks, prisons, mental hospitals, wind farms, etc have to go somewhere ...... but NotInMyBackYard !!! :>)
Agent Pierce, You left out
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 21:26 — WhalerCaneAgent Pierce,
You left out poor kids. :-) .
Committee
Thu, 07/29/2010 - 17:06 — liveonourporchesIt would be nice to know who the Advisory Committee Members were and who the "no vote" was and why they voted that way