November 4, 2026 – GoTriangle, the Research Triangle’s regional transit provider, showed dramatic growth in trips taken and total miles traveled by passengers over the past year, showing an upward trend across core ridership metrics. These improvements underscore an essential truth about public transit: when transit agencies offer increased service opportunities, riders take notice – and benefit.
GoTriangle showed a 14% increase in passenger trips during Fiscal Year 2026, which ended June 30, 2026, with passengers traveling more than 15.6 million miles on GoTriangle bus routes. The increase in travel comes after concerted enhancements to a number of GoTriangle routes throughout the region over the past 18 months – including the first regional 15-minute frequent routes on Routes 100 and 400/405.
“We have listened to our riders and to the public and made improvements to our service. What these numbers suggest is that the public has responded by making use of our transit offerings more than ever,” said Katharine Eggleston, GoTriangle Interim President & Chief Executive Officer. “It is clear that word is spreading about the reliability and the high quality of public transportation here in the Triangle.”
Digging into the numbers a little more showcase during the last quarter of the year (April-June 2026):
- Ridership was up 83% on Route 400/405 between Durham and Chapel Hill, which had been running every 15 minutes all day instead of every 30 minutes since August 2025
- Ridership was up almost 60% on Route 100 between Raleigh and RTP, which had been running every 15 minutes all day instead of every 30 minutes since March 2026
- Ridership was up more than 100% on WRX and ZWX in eastern Wake County as a result of running hourly all day beginning in November 2025, instead of operating only at peak
- Ridership was up more than 80% on Sundays overall as a result of buses running every 30 minutes instead of every hour since August 2025
“What we’re doing is working, and these numbers show that,” said Mary-Ann Baldwin, chair of the GoTriangle Board of Trustees. “We are not content to rest on our laurels. People are seeing the value of public transportation, and we understand that we have to deliver.”
Speaking of value, the statistical improvements also underline a growing need for residents in the Triangle – and throughout the United States – for safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation. In fact, according to a new report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a household that owns one fewer vehicle and rides public transportation instead of driving can save an average of $14,100 a year – up from $13,000 from its 2019 report. That works out to about nearly $1,200 a month that stays in family budgets, according to the report, Public Transit Saves American Families Money.
The report compares the cost of a monthly public transit pass with the full cost of owning and operating a car, including gas, insurance, maintenance, and parking. Over the same period, families have faced record car prices, high financing costs, and rising gas prices, while public transit riders have kept more predictable monthly cost. (GoTriangle offers free and discounted passes available through employers, universities and colleges, to seniors, youth, and income-qualified individuals.)
“With so many costs outside a family’s control, taking public transportation can help cut monthly transportation expenses,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Whether it’s commuting to work, running errands, or keeping appointments, public transit is a practical and budget-friendly choice,” Skoutelas said. “Sustained federal investment in public transportation helps make sure that option is there for the families who count on it.”