GoTriangle will partner with Seaboard Station developer on new RTP transit hub
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A rendering of a future transit hub in Research Triangle Park. Photo: Courtesy of GoTriangle
Hoffman & Associates, the Washington, D.C.-based developer behind projects like Seaboard Station in Raleigh and The Wharf in D.C., will be the lead developer on a mixed-use transit center in Research Triangle Park.
Why it matters: The future transit hub — located near the intersection of Miami Boulevard and N.C. Highway 54 — is pitched as a key connection point for future regional bus rapid transit, passenger rail service and a 17-mile-long bikeway.
- Last year, it won a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, though a GoTriangle spokesperson said the agency is still working to secure the funds through the state's congressional delegation.
Driving the news: GoTriangle and the Research Triangle Foundation, the nonprofit that runs Research Triangle Park, recently named Hoffman & Associates as the main developer for the site.
- GoTriangle already has experience working with Hoffman, as the two are currently working together on the RUS Bus transit center in downtown Raleigh.
Zoom in: GoTriangle's plan for the property calls for:
- A multi-modal transit center, featuring boarding bays and air-conditioned waiting areas.
- A mixture of residential and commercial buildings, including what will be GoTriangle's future headquarters.
- And a hotel for travelers and visitors.
What they're saying: Maria Thompson, president at Hoffman & Associates, told Axios in a statement that it is still in the early stages of designing what the ultimate development could look like.
- But the goal is to begin construction on the transit facility next year.
- "We were drawn to the site's prospect to serve as a true gateway to the region," Thompson said of why it wanted to partner with GoTriangle.
- "With its direct connection to I-40 and proximity to Research Triangle Park and Hub RTP, it presents an exciting opportunity to create a community that is rooted in connectivity, sustainability and thoughtful urban design."
State of play: Research Triangle Park is one of the largest job centers in the region, with more than 300 companies based there.
- While the Research Triangle Foundation wants to encourage more housing in RTP, most existing workers have to commute long distances into the business park.
- The new transit hub could significantly expand access to RTP and encourage more development around it.
Thompson said Hoffman believes there is still strong demand for more housing in RTP, despite a large amount of supply hitting the market in recent years.
- "While there's been a lot of new multifamily development, the demand for thoughtfully designed, transit-oriented housing remains strong," Thompson said. "[The Triangle] continues to see some of the fastest population growth in the country. That growth reinforces the need for walkable, mixed-use communities that are built to last."