Wendell News Outlet

Dear Friends,

This week, the Triangle took two critical steps toward ensuring our high quality of life in the face of regional growth - one that will help protect our water supply, and one that will help build a regional mass transit system.

WakeUP Wake County commends Governor Bev Perdue for signing S 1020, which will protect and restore water quality and quantity in Falls Lake, and HB 148, which will allow regional authorities to plan and fund a public transit system in the Triangle. Gov. Perdue signed the Falls Lake bill into law on August 26. She signed the transit bill at a special ceremony in the state capitol on August 27.

WakeUP Wake County lobbied hard for these bills. A huge thank you to everyone who contacted or met with legislators in support of clean water and public transportation!

PROTECTING FALLS LAKE

The Falls Lake bill sets a new deadline of January 2011 for permanet rules to be developed to clean up and protect Falls Lake, provides credit to local governments, landowners, and others who reduce water pollution in the watershed before permanent rules are adopted, and adopts a sedimentation strategy for drinking water supply reservoirs.

We would like to recognize in particular the hard work of Wake Senator Josh Stein (D) and Wake Representative Jennifer Weiss (D) who led negotiations among area municipalities, elected officials, the homebuilders lobby, WakeUP and the NeuseRiver Foundation to reach a mutually agreeable solution on the Falls effort. The bill also enjoyed bi-partisan support of the entire Wake delegation, all of whom voted in favor of the bill.

DEVELOPING REGIONAL TRANSIT

The transit bill authorizes referenda in Triangle counties for a half cent sales tax to fund a transit system of expanded bus service and light rail, and authorizes other funding measures for transit. As the Triangle continues to grow, planning for transportation needs must be a top priority. A regional transit system will improve our quality of life, and help guide development in ways that will prevent sprawl, improve air quality, create jobs and improve our economy.

We would like to recognize and applaud the important bi-partisan leadership of Wake legislators Senator Richard Stevens (R) and Representative Deborah Ross (D), who were key bill sponsors of HB 148 in the General Assembly. The transit bill also enjoyed the bi-partisan support of most other Wake legislators who voted for the bill: Sen. Dan Blue (D), Sen. Neal Hunt (R), Sen. Josh Stein (D), Rep. Rosa Gill (D), Rep. Ty Harrell (D), Rep. Darren Jackson (D), Rep. Grier Martin (D), and Rep. Jennifer Weiss (D).

Click here to donate now to WakeUP so we can continue to be a strong voice for well-planned growth in Wake County!