[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6605711,"mediaKeyId","2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a","parentId",2985035,"title","CAMPO presents draft 10‑year Wake Transit investment strategy, prioritizes BRT and community funding areas","audioSeconds",4124,"startMs",2567000,"endMs",6691000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a&start=2567&end=6691","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a/thumbnail_2567000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605711/Wake-County/North-Carolina/CAMPO-presents-draft-10year-Wake-Transit-investment-strategy-prioritizes-BRT-and-community-funding-areas","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605711-b0c53380f5094732bcaa63eacb80f6e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437864&Signature=LMpGe0ACb9vdT6AikQM2C32QpFxGbSaNFSXAxPvleojiqWFSIruf5V3wOpGaHQGCceh5BpyXYxyItttjbATEtYxTViCFDAeTfDatATR1rhsWbtu-XDoifOd7cIH54-GhROw2fb0o0AfUEhcbLqMmZgghFVFZDwXxl23AneWzilTarhtLg0AuM4cqGUrPcT4MPARDwD7LpqHL2J8-~NldXBPFyWbbQu14nPY93-55rEp-jJOiJtdh0-p26gPtDd1Env8mrfLxDbHRKtAD87I~575bfZbjxA8EIzDy84vNhcBTex1SACe1u4X8xcHhCJzl-wZItPeSRcYony4SgruBRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wake County","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","Ben Howell, Wake Transit program manager at the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), briefed the Wake County Board of Commissioners on April 14 on a draft update to the Wake Transit Plan that would set transit funding priorities for the next 10 years.

The draft plan assumes roughly $3.3 billion in available revenue over the next decade — led by the local half‑cent sales tax and long‑term bond proceeds — and, Howell said, “please note everything. All the numbers in this presentation are draft.” He told commissioners the draft would be released for public review and that final adoption is expected later this year by CAMPO’s executive board and the GoTriangle board.

Why it matters: the plan guides how Wake Transit sales tax revenue will be programmed across capital and operating needs. The draft directs new money toward a core bus rapid transit (BRT) network, regional rail readiness, more frequent bus service, and expanded community funding area (CFA) grants for municipalities without established transit service.

Key elements of the draft investment strategy

- Revenue and capacity: Howell said the team expects about $3.3 billion over 10 years, with 54% from the sales tax and about 26% from long‑term debt proceeds. He said roughly half of that money has already been programmed for existing obligations and projects, leaving about $1.2 billion for new investments over the decade.

- Rail and regional strategy: the plan continues to advance regional rail readiness rather than building full commuter rail in the coming 10 years. CAMPO is coordinating a regional rail implementation plan due in June, and Wake Transit intends to set aside approximately $216 million for rail‑ready projects (stations, track improvements and related items) that would roll over annually until spent.

- Bus rapid transit and frequent service: the draft calls for a core BRT network (New Bern Avenue, Western Boulevard linking Raleigh and Cary, the Southern Corridor to Garner and Northern Corridor/Capital Boulevard alignments) and capital support for an I‑40 corridor BRT. Howell estimated about $1 billion in BRT capital investment and expects the county’s frequent bus network to grow from roughly 100 miles to about 300 miles over 10 years, adding about 13 new frequent routes.

- Community funding areas and local services: the CFA program would receive increased funding under the draft, including a proposal to reduce local match requirements from 50% to 35% (Wake Transit covering 65%) and to double CFA allocations over the next decade. Howell said most Wake County municipalities have already accessed CFA funds for planning, capital and startup operations.

Public engagement and responses

Howell summarized two engagement rounds: an earlier phase that asked participants to allocate a limited budget among modes, and a more recent phase (online surveys, pop‑ups and four focus groups) that tested three themes: postponing commuter rail in favor of regional rail readiness; a BRT link between Raleigh and Durham; and whether to prioritize serving more people or more places first. He reported that 76% of respondents supported the draft approach favoring regional rail readiness over immediate commuter rail and that 70% supported a Raleigh‑Durham BRT connection. Responses showed a near split on serving “people” versus “places,” with transit riders favoring people‑first investments.

Commissioners’ questions focused on implementation details: staffing and whether operators can hire enough drivers as service expands, confidence in revenue assumptions (Howell said the model is “pretty confident” but noted uncertainty in vehicle rental tax and farebox revenue), the role of federal funds on large projects (Howell said the draft mostly assumed no federal funding but anticipates federal participation on major corridors), and vehicle energy types (Howell said most new vehicle purchases are in the clean‑energy spectrum: compressed natural gas, hybrid/electric and similar technologies).

Next steps: Howell said the draft investment strategy and supporting materials will be released for public engagement from May 1–30, with the FY‑2026 Wake Transit work plan engagement in the first two weeks of May. CAMPO and GoTriangle boards will consider the final plan and recommendations later in the summer and fall.

Ending: Commissioners were asked to provide feedback before CAMPO and GoTriangle consider the plan. Howell and staff said they will return with the final recommended draft and noted the May public outreach period as the primary window for public comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wake County - Regular - Apr 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ben Howell, Wake Transit program manager for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), briefed the Wake County Board of Commissioners on April 14 on a draft 10‑year Wake Transit investment strategy that assumes about $3.3 billion in revenue and prioritizes BRT, frequent bus service and expanded community funding area grants.","taxTitle","Wake County, North Carolina","taxId",3336,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605701,"Wake County outlines white‑flag cold‑weather sheltering and plans for Second Street Place permanent shelter",528,10991000,11519000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a&start=10991&end=11519","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a/thumbnail_10991000.jpg","/articles/6605701/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Wake-County-outlines-whiteflag-coldweather-sheltering-and-plans-for-Second-Street-Place-permanent-shelter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605701-71493f269103fdcd98db7713b8c2acf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437864&Signature=O301nJJcBFuX2w-QnHiYAwZuPsfkQIXHXC78DlLAmZ2PtvwEJjCGKic0ibp~mFlJArSo3Lt39kNQvpwBO6m2IkmAwbWENB~gPp8pmTqxEowNEHCMgWMfC0-CHUe6WrF6w5cx-bkEn-kJuQYMkUXfNi6ckwyIlelj57mWrGhlbRawnnEErwaN~Lcvnbq02TEmR70CwANi9U052PiH7epA9LUdBOE7EFDUkUH~28oHUZseKqy4Krh1WhDkIAlLCL5eNW~cgQCAEcO3KBfNLR5MYRYR9b9IAcXKMJYnCZaMQwWFZPlBx-zvwUnClzJvtTaFiFD6aaj6oUIAopEsDt7iGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wake County staff updated the Board of Commissioners on April 14 about the county’s winter “white flag” shelter activations and the county’s purchase and ongoing conversion of Second Street Place into a permanent low‑barrier emergency shelter with wraparound services.

Lede: County staff said the Continuum of Care (CoC) recorded 61 white‑flag alerts during the most recent cold‑weather season and that the county’s Second Street Place — acquired last year and opened on Jan. 1 — will be transitioned to a permanent, expanded shelter site with a second‑phase renovation scheduled for April–November of next year.

Nut graf: Staff described how white‑flag activations are declared using National Weather Service outlooks (a watch/warning with expected temperatures at or below 35°F triggers the county’s current threshold), summarized nightly surge capacity for unsheltered people, and outlined the county’s plan to issue an RFP for a long‑term Second Street Place operator and to complete capital upgrades estimated at about $5.1 million.

White flag and surge sheltering

- Declaration and criteria: County staff said the CoC’s white‑flag annual response plan uses National Weather Service watches and warnings; the CoC chair (pastor Vance Haywood of St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church was identified as the current chair) makes the official declaration when conditions meet the plan’s criteria.

- Capacity and partners: Staff reported that night‑by‑night shelter capacity was expanded by mobilizing community partner sites during alerts and that capacity flexed between about 110 and 190 additional beds for single adults on surge nights and roughly 20 family beds. Faith partners that provided space during the season included Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, Church of the Good Shepherd, First Baptist Church and Edenton United Methodist Church, staff said.

Second Street Place: acquisition, operation and Phase‑2 plans

- Background and current operation: Morgan Mansa of Wake County’s housing team described the county’s purchase of the building last fall and said Second Street Place opened on New Year’s Day to replace interim shelter capacity previously provided at Cabarrus Street. She said the facility operates as a low‑barrier, night‑by‑night emergency shelter that also helps prioritize regular shelter placements and referrals into Bridge to Home and other housing pathways.

- Steering committee and services: Staff convened a steering committee of nearby nonprofits, faith partners and county teams to shape an RFP for a long‑term operator. The future model will pair the night‑by‑night shelter with on‑site or closely coordinated wraparound services: housing navigation, flexible financial assistance, behavioral health and health care linkages, and food access supports.

- Capital and schedule: Facilities staff presented schematic plans and said the Phase‑2 interior renovation is estimated at about $5.1 million. The proposal adds bathrooms and showers (internal), a security area, program/meeting rooms, staff offices and upgrades to mechanical, electrical and life‑safety systems. Facilities said the project design would be finished in September, bid in October, and, if the county awards construction contracts in November, construction would run approximately April 1–Nov. 1 of the next year. County staff said Second Street Place will continue operating during most of the renovation planning period and that they are exploring community partners and alternate facilities to cover services during the construction window if needed.

Quotations and next steps

- “We opened on New Year’s Day,” Morgan Mansa told the board, noting the compressed, cross‑agency effort required to open the facility quickly. County staff said they would announce the selected long‑term operator in May and expect full long‑term operations to begin July 1; capital renovation and operator transition work will proceed thereafter.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff about laundry, neighborhood impacts and faith‑community partnerships. Staff said they will continue community outreach, refine operational plans with partners, and return with the schematic design for the renovation at a future meeting (staff indicated a May board agenda item on the schematic design was planned).","County staff reported 61 white‑flag cold‑weather activations in the last season and previewed Phase 2 improvements and a longer‑term operator selection for Second Street Place, a low‑barrier night‑by‑night shelter purchased last year and opened Jan. 1",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605706,"Wake County staff brief commissioners on hospitality‑tax structure, upcoming competitive funding round and Cary indoor sports project",3545,6717000,10262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a&start=6717&end=10262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2985035-feeae4f7cc8d90f643f237e5d8ce131a/thumbnail_6717000.jpg","/articles/6605706/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Wake-County-staff-brief-commissioners-on-hospitalitytax-structure-upcoming-competitive-funding-round-and-Cary-indoor-sports-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605706-03ac32237438bb96efa4d5ff337af0a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437864&Signature=GzQxQeMJqLN9CeP~gA-qzI8DtcaE1owD9OYV48f0ej9gVE4hk2c2YR5G2AX5cjXSnFhInaptNZuUdH9eB2BWjE46rWMWY3C65-vyYV8TiBTOTbxMJUJcJTAJhHwOZYhGCNphy9EnSkUwaMEAL-NjGf6KEMK0DV5DUyLEux7aUt-ViKe2nXiNsQudYVqDZcIApm5jUJp9o5U2Q6epw~uSURHWpte~vM~zKUjQlyoNRl4v1ryxv7~8s9~kw8pyeRk~aqLvPA8RMEA7HA23Qe0svQUMLKzBWfGmPdOFh0jd9828CEP2Ff1N75jnn916UBqpgQ-rwkkNG9ku-LR75IFxGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michael James, a Wake County staff presenter, reviewed the county’s hospitality‑tax framework and upcoming decisions during the board’s April 14 work session.

Lede: James told commissioners that the tax program — established under state enabling acts and governed by an interlocal agreement with the City of Raleigh — funds arts, culture and major facilities and that the next competitive funding round will take place in late 2025 with a stakeholder review following by mid‑2026.

Nut graf: Hospitality taxes (the 6% occupancy tax and the 1% prepared food and beverage tax) flow through an interlocal agreement (ILA) and are distributed first to statutorily required recipients and debt service; after those mandatory distributions, remaining funds are split (the presentation cited an 85% share for the Raleigh convention center complex and 15% to a competitive/section‑3 fund). County staff said occupancy receipts are outperforming the projections used in the most recent ILA amendment while prepared food and beverage collections are running below those projections by roughly $400,000.

What staff told commissioners

- Legal and governance background: James reviewed the 1991 and 1995 state enabling legislation that authorized occupancy and prepared food taxes, required an interlocal agreement between Raleigh and Wake County, and established early funding distributions. The ILA has been amended multiple times; recent amendments set allocations and added projects such as the Lenovo Center renovation and convention center expansion.

- Revenue performance and modeling: James said occupancy receipts rebounded strongly after the pandemic and are outpacing the revenue projections used in the last major ILA amendment; prepared food and beverage tax receipts are weaker than projected (by about $400,000 in 2024 and by $400,000–$600,000 in updated short‑term forecasts). Staff told commissioners they are monitoring both lines closely because food prices and consumer confidence could affect receipts.

- How the money flows: Using the current adopted budget as an example, James showed total hospitality revenues and required Section‑1 distributions (statutory allocations and debt service). After those required draws, approximately 85% of remaining funds support the Raleigh convention‑center complex (including debt service on the expansion) while roughly 15% supports competitive projects and smaller awards to municipalities.

Indoor sports facility and Cary award

James reviewed an indoor sports facility allocation included in the prior amendment. Cary was the only applicant in the earlier competitive process and was selected to receive a funding allocation structured to support about $75 million of financing capacity; Wake County has appropriated about $4.7 million to date for that project and another small allocation was scheduled for 2026, leaving most of the planned capacity to be drawn in later years.

James said Cary informed county staff that the town’s November 2024 referendum on general obligation financing failed and Cary has told the county the project is not viable in its prior form. Cary has sent a letter requesting the funds be reallocated (for example, to WakeMed’s soccer park upgrades), but James said any reallocation would require an ILA amendment approved by both Wake County and Raleigh and that no staff recommendation on reallocation was being made at the April 14 meeting.

Competitive funding timeline and capacity

James summarized the history of the county’s competitive awards (a multi‑step RFP and staff review process dating back to 2013) and said the 2025 round must be run to meet timelines set in the last ILA amendment. Staff will work with Raleigh to develop the process and return to both councils with a recommended approach later this year; RFPs would be released afterward and awards would be made once applications are reviewed. James said the ILA added about $15.5 million of competitive project capacity and the county has roughly four years of $2 million per year small‑projects funds available; combined, those elements give approximately $23.5 million of competitive funding to plan for across the multi‑year period.

Why this matters: competitive project dollars have funded fields, parks and cultural projects across Wake County and are intended to distribute hospitality‑tax‑funded investments more widely than the convention center complex alone. James said applicants are generally expected to bring substantial matching funds (historically applicants brought roughly 55% of project funding), and county staff will propose application requirements to the board before RFP release.

Ending: Staff said they will present a draft process and timeline later this summer, issue RFPs after that, and that the next stakeholder review of the ILA and countywide hospitality‑tax funding is scheduled for early 2026.","County staff reviewed the history and financial structure of Wake County hospitality taxes, outlined revenue trends and the timeline for a 2025 competitive funding process and 2026 stakeholder review, and said an indoor sports facility previously awarded to Cary is not moving forward after a failed local referendum","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CAMPO presents draft 10‑year Wake Transit investment strategy, prioritizes BRT and community funding areas

Wake County outlines white‑flag cold‑weather sheltering and plans for Second Street Place permanent shelter

Wake County staff brief commissioners on hospitality‑tax structure, upcoming competitive funding round and Cary indoor sports project