Research Triangle Park, NC (July 13, 2017) — After weeks of public comment, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees approved updated county transit plans in April. Here’s a look at improvements already made using the half-cent transit tax that Orange County voters approved in 2012 and at upcoming projects.

NEW BUS SERVICE COMING IN FISCAL YEAR 2018

  • Rural northeastern fixed route two days a week
  • Rural northwestern fixed route two days a week
  • Rural southern fixed route two days a week
  • Orange-Alamance Connector on U.S. 70
  • Efland-Hillsborough Commuter Loop

EXPANDED BUS SERVICE

GoTriangle since 2013

  • 15-minute service during peak commute times on Route 800S between Streets at Southpoint in Durham and Chapel Hill
  • New commuter express service (Route ODX) connecting Mebane and Hillsborough with Duke Medical Center and downtown Durham
  • Sunday service introduced on Routes 400, 700 and 800, including a connection to RDU Airport on Route 100; Saturday service extended to run until 11 p.m.
  • Additional service on the Chapel Hill-Raleigh Express service (Route CRX) during peak commute times
  • Extension to Carrboro on Chapel Hill-Durham regional route (Route 405) during peak commute times
  • Reduced travel time and more frequent service for Route 400 between Chapel Hill and Durham, with buses scheduled every 30 minutes in the middle of weekday sand Saturdays

Chapel Hill Transit since 2014

  • Evening and night service on four routes now year-round, instead of only when UNC is in session
  • Two evening trips added on Route F: Colony Woods/Franklin Street/McDougle School
  • Additional Saturday service on three routes
  • Additional midday trips on Route NS: Eubanks Road/Southern Village
  • Additional morning trips on two routes
  • Extended morning service on Route D: Culbreth Road / Franklin Street / Eastowne

Orange Public Transit since 2016

  • Continued service of the Hillsborough Circulator (previously funded with limited federal grant)
  • New midday service between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill on the Cedar Grove-Hillsborough-Chapel Hill Midday Connector

BETTER FACILITIES AND MORE BUSES (through 2020)

  • Purchase of two GoTriangle buses to support expanded services
  • Purchase of up to eight Chapel Hill Transit buses to support expanded services; five will entail using unspent operating revenues
  • Purchase of up to six Orange Public Transit buses plus ancillary equipment to support new Orange County services
  • Hillsborough Train Station slated for construction in fiscal years 2019 and 2020, including bus stop amenities
  • New North Hillsborough park-and-ride lot
  • Lease of spaces at Mebane Cone Health for park-and-ride lot for Orange-Durham Express
  • Bus stop improvements including new signs, pedestrian crossings, better lighting, new shelters
  • Enhanced amenities at high-volume UNC Hospitals stop
  • South Greensboro Street sidewalk to provide pedestrian access for several nearby CHT and GoTriangle routes
  • Completion of West Main Street sidewalk, improving access to transit routes, plus crosswalk improvements
  • Addition of HAWK signal, a pedestrian-activated signal that will allow transit riders to safely access destinations along NC 54 in Carrboro

THE DURHAM-ORANGE LIGHT-RAIL PROJECT

  • $2.5 billion Engineering and construction costs
  • $738.4 million Durham’s expected share in year of expenditure dollars
  • $149.5 million Orange County’s local share
  • 17.7 miles Length with 18 stations between UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and NC Central University in Durham
  • 2020 Expected construction start date
  • 2028 Expected date service will begin
  • 50,000 Annual hours of additional transit service once the service starts
  • 18 The number of service hours a day Monday through Friday, with 10-minute headways at peak times and 20-minute headways the rest of the day
  • 20 The percentage of Orange County residents who commute to work in Durham County or more than 14,300 people
  • 9.5 The percentage of Durham residents who commute to Orange County for work or 17,606 people

IN THE WORKS
North-South Bus Rapid Transit Project

The 8.2-mile frequent-fixed guideway bus service along US 15-501 has been accepted into the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program, where it is being defined and shaped. Chapel Hill Transit is preparing to initiate engineering and environmental clearance activities in FY 2018.

For a printable pdf of this information, click here
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