Chapel Hill Transit

Last updated
Chapel Hill Transit
Chapel Hill Transit logo.png
2008-07-11 Chapel Hill bus passing South Building.jpg
Founded1974
Headquarters6900 Millhouse Road
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Service area Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC
Service type bus service, paratransit
Routes24
Daily ridership13,800 (weekdays, Q3 2023) [1]
Annual ridership3,419,100 (2022) [2]
Website chtransit.org

Chapel Hill Transit operates public bus and van transportation services within the contiguous municipalities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the southeast corner of Orange County in the Research Triangle metropolitan region of North Carolina. Chapel Hill Transit operates its fixed route system fare free due to a contractual agreement with the two towns and the university to share annual operating and capital costs. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 3,419,100, or about 13,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

Contents

History

In the early 1970s, during the administration of Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Nathaniel Lee, the Public Transportation Study Committee was formed, consisting of representatives from the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and UNC. The committee then received a Federal Urban Mass Transit Administration grant to examine the suitability of a permanent transit system. Town voters approved a $350,000 bond referendum for local match for capital and a $.10/$100 valuation ad valorem tax to support transit operations. [3] Chapel Hill Transit began operations in August 1974 as a department of the Town of Chapel Hill government. Prior to Chapel Hill Transit, the UNC Student Government operated a campus shuttle system from 1968 until 1974. The Transit Director reports to the Town Manager, who is responsible to the Town Council. A citizen advisory committee, the Transportation Board, makes recommendations to the Town Council on transportation and traffic issues. [3] A plan adopted by the Town Council in 1977 included a set of transportation goals which specifically encourage transit over automobile use in the central areas of Chapel Hill. [3] Although the transit system is operated by the town of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC are financial partners in the operations. [3] System expenses are allocated based upon population. Carrboro began purchasing transit services in the fiscal year 1977–1978 with revenue sharing funds. In the fall of 1980, Carrboro approved a $.10/$100 valuation ad valorem tax to pay for transit service. [3] In fiscal year 1980–1981 the Carrboro contract first included the EZ Rider. [3]

Chapel Hill Transit, Average Daily Ridership, 2002-2016 Chapel Hill Transit Average Daily Ridership.pdf
Chapel Hill Transit, Average Daily Ridership, 2002–2016
Digitized signs showing the estimated arrival times of buses. Chapel Hill Transit Bus Stop.jpg
Digitized signs showing the estimated arrival times of buses.

In 1992, Chapel Hill Transit teamed up with the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition and Ebus, a California company that manufactures electric buses, to demonstrate a 22-passenger bus that promised cleaner air and reduced dependence on foreign fuels. [4] This vehicle demonstration followed an earlier one arranged by the Public Transportation Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In the earlier demonstration, a Transteq hybrid bus was transported from daily use in Denver, Colorado, and made available for test drives on the Chapel Hill Transit lot. In February 2006, K. Stephen Spade, a former Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority employee, was hired as the transportation director for the Town of Chapel Hill. [5] In August 2006, Chapel Hill Transit announced that their buses will be equipped with GPS tracking devices, allowing the bus riders to check the arrival time of the buses using the internet and their cell phone. The project was completed by NextBus Inc. Fourteen bus stops would also have digitized signs showing the estimated arrival times of buses. These signs were controversial, as the cost of installing them was almost $1 million. In September 2006, Chapel Hill Transit announced plans to begin purchasing hybrid buses. The town planned to buy as many as nineteen new buses: three hybrids, several extra-long and the rest standard size. In October 2006, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved the purchase of sixteen new Chapel Hill Transit buses at a cost of $5.8 million from Gillig Corp. Federal grants provided about $5.2 million, and the town provided approximately $600,000 in local funds. Three of these sixteen new buses run on diesel-electric drivetrains. The rest of the buses are mostly powered by Detroit Diesel series 50 engines. The buses, delivered in July 2007, expanded the system and replaced older buses. The town had an additional $1.7 million in federal funding which was sufficient to purchase four 60-foot articulated buses, each with two sections that allow them to flex in the middle. All of the purchased buses were low-floor buses with interior floors at curb level.

Fixed Route Service

The Chapel Hill Transit system consists of 20 routes, however, during weekends, only 9 routes run. 3 of the weekday routes are considered express routes and are designated with an X, with the exception of route 420. The basic hours of operation are from early morning to evening. Connections to GoTriangle, Orange County Transportation Authority, and PART are available at Manning Drive. Each fixed route vehicle is equipped with a bike rack, which can take two bikes, and Wi-Fi.

The Shared Ride Feeder service is available for passengers from areas that do not receive regular bus service. Chapel Hill Transit Shared Ride Van.jpg
The Shared Ride Feeder service is available for passengers from areas that do not receive regular bus service.

A Senior Shuttle route operates weekdays making 7 stops each hour, in a loop, to destinations in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The Senior Shuttle route uses alternative vehicles to accommodate passengers with restricted mobility.

All fixed routes and special service routes are fare free. The Tar Heel Express charges a $3 one way and $5 round trip fee for rides. [6]

Route List

RouteDestinations
AColonial Heights
Weiner St
University Drive
BUNC-Chapel Hill
Mason Farm Rd
Ronald McDonald House
CLUNC-Chapel Hill
East Dr at Jackson Circle
Old Sterling Dr
Eastowne Dr
CMUNC-Chapel Hill
Pittsboro St
Jones Ferry
Park & Ride
CWNC-54
Old Fayetteville Rd
DUNC-Chapel Hill
East Dr at Jackson Circle
Old Chapel Hill Rd
Huse St
FColony Woods Dr
Overland Drive
Jones Ferry
Park & Ride
GUNC-Chapel Hill
Manning Drive
Booker Creek Apartments
HSMorris Grove Elementary
JUNC-Chapel Hill
Pittsboro St at Credit Union
Rock Haven Road
NEstes Park ApartmentsFriday Center
Park & Ride
NSEubanks Road
Park & Ride
Southern Village
Park & Ride
NUUNC-Chapel Hill
Manning Drive
RR Lot
Park & Ride
SUNC-Chapel Hill
S Columbia St at South Rd
Friday Center
Park & Ride
TE. Chapel Hill High School
Weaver Dairy Rd
RUUNC Loop Shuttle
U
Express Routes | Rush Hours Only
CCXUNC-Chapel Hill
Manning Drive
Chatham County
Park & Ride
FCX Friday Center
Park & Ride
JFXJones Ferry Road
Park & Ride
Other Routes
420 Chapel Hill Hillsborough

Safe Ride Service

The Safe Ride program is funded by the University of North Carolina to provide safe overnight service while UNC Chapel Hill is in session. It only runs on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 3 "Safe Ride" routes operate on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday late evenings when the university is in session. They all start in the Varsity Theater in E Franklin Street. [7]

RouteDestination
JVarsity TheaterThe Village Apartments
G Friday Center
Park & Ride
TWestminster Circle

Tar Heel Express Shuttles

Chapel Hill Transit operates a "Tar Heel Express" special event shuttle service for UNC Football and Men's Basketball home games, in addition to special events. The shuttles provide continuous and fully accessible service, running every 10 to 15 minutes between the park and rides and Kenan Memorial Stadium or Dean E. Smith Center. Service ends 45 minutes after the game ends.

Pick-Up LocationsBegins
Friday Center1.5 hours before game time
Southern Village2 hours before game time
Downtown Chapel Hill1.5 hours before game time

Discontinued Routes

DesignationRouteEnd DateReplacement Route(s)
CPXCarrboro Plaza ExpressAugust 3, 2020CW
HU UNC Hospitals/NC 54 Park & Ride/Hedrick BuildingAugust 3, 2020B
V Southern Village/MeadowmontAugust 3, 2020N

Paratransit

A fare free "EZ Rider" paratransit service provides a demand-responsive transit service for the handicapped and elderly that are unable to use the regular fixed route service. [3] The service operates from morning to evening on weekdays and on Saturdays. Advanced reservations and enrollment are required. [6]

Park & Ride

Chapel Hill Transit operates 3 Park & Ride lots throughout Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Parking fees are $2/day and can be paid using an on-site meter or the Parkmobile app. Monthly and annual permits are available for $21/month and $250/year. The University of North Carolina operates 4 other Park & Ride lots. Permitting for these lots is administered through the university's Commuter Alternatives Program (CAP) Office. UNC's Park & Ride lots are for UNC Employees and Students only; no public/daily parking is available. UNC Park & Ride permits are honored in all Chapel Hill Transit Park & Ride lots. [6]

Chapel Hill Transit Park & Ride Lots

LotLocationServed ByParkmobile Zone
Eubanks RoadOn Eubanks Rd, 1/2 mi west of MLK Jr BlvdNS & CRX (GoTriangle)8801
Jones FerryJust south of Old Fayetteville Rd and Jones Ferry RdCM, F, & JFX8802
Southern Village Just off US 15-501 SouthNS8804

UNC Park & Ride Lots

LotLocationServed By
Friday Center On Friday Center Dr and NC 54FCX
MLK Jr Blvd725 MLK Jr. BlvdG, NS, T
NC 54 EastFriday Center Dr and NC 54S
Chatham County US 15-501 near Old LystraCCX

Bus Rapid Transit

Chapel Hill Transit is planning to build an 8.2 mile North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT) to run from the Eubanks Road Park & Ride lot (a northern terminus) and Southern Village (the southern terminus) and points in between. The route follows NC 86 (MLK Jr. Blvd.) from the northern edge of Chapel Hill into downtown, then follows Columbia St through the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, and continues along US 15-501 to Southern Village. The proposed route is based on the NS route which consistently has the highest ridership of all routes. Projected cost is $96-105.9 million with $50-75 million provided by federal funding, to commence passenger service in 2028 and projected 12,000 daily trips (in 2040) with an annual operating cost of $3.4 million. The NSBRT will run every 8 minutes during peak hours and every 10-20 minutes in off-peak hours. The existing NS bus route is expected to be replaced by the NSBRT. Along most of the corridor, NSBRT will operate in dedicated lanes. [8]

Proposed BRT Stations

  1. Eubanks Park & Ride
  2. Weaver Dairy Road
  3. New Parkside
  4. Northfield
  5. Piney Mountain
  6. Estes
  7. Hillsborough
  8. Franklin
  9. Cameron (northbound)
  10. Carrington Hall (northbound)
  11. Pittsboro / Credit Union (southbound)
  12. Manning / East
  13. NC 54
  14. Culbreth
  15. Southern Village Park & Ride

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapel Hill, North Carolina</span> Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Chapel Hill is a town in Orange and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-most populous municipality in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state capital, Raleigh, make up the corners of the Research Triangle, with a total population of 2,106,463 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Area Rapid Transit</span> American transit agency

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a transit agency serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex of Texas. It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and twelve of its suburbs. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 42,499,600, or about 161,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity Metro</span> Transit agency for Forth Worth and Tarrant County, Texas

Trinity Metro is a transit agency located in and serving the city of Fort Worth, Texas and its suburbs in surrounding Tarrant County, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. Since 1983, it was previously known officially as the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA), and branded itself as The T. As of January 29, 2018 the Board of Directors has voted to rebrand bus services as Trinity Metro, replacing the previous and long standing name. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 4,761,100, or about 17,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Research Triangle</span> Geographic region of North Carolina, U.S.

The Research Triangle, or simply The Triangle, are both common nicknames for a metropolitan area in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Anchored by the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, the region is home to three major research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively. The "Triangle" name originated in the 1950s with the creation of Research Triangle Park located between the three anchor cities, which is the largest research park in the United States and home to numerous high tech companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GoTriangle</span>

The Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority, known as GoTriangle, provides regional bus service to the Research Triangle region of North Carolina in Wake, Durham, and Orange counties. The GoTriangle name was adopted in 2015 as part of the consolidated GoTransit branding scheme for the Triangle. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 1,616,600, or about 6,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King County Metro</span> Public transit operator in King County, Washington, US

King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle. It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 66,022,200, or about 244,500 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023. Metro employs 2,444 full-time and part-time operators and operates 1,540 buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District</span>

The Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District is a mass transit system that operates in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area in eastern Illinois. MTD is headquartered in Urbana and operates its primary hub at the intermodal Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 7,797,100, or about 24,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Transit Authority</span> Public transit agency in the U.S

The Manchester Transit Authority, or MTA, is a public transportation provider in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States. It was founded in 1973 and operates 13 regular bus routes through the city, including a free downtown circulator, which was rebranded as the Green DASH in 2011. In general, service is hourly, with more frequent service along corridors served by multiple routes, and especially on the Green DASH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority</span>

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) provides area residents and visitors public transportation within parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, including the cities of Charleston, North Charleston and the surrounding communities of Mount Pleasant, Summerville, James Island, Sullivan's Island, and the Isle of Palms. CARTA presently contracts with Transdev for staffing and managing the bus drivers in addition to maintaining and scheduling the buses. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 2,191,500, or about 7,100 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GoDurham</span> Transit district in Durham, North Carolina, U.S.

GoDurham, formerly Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA), is the public transit system serving Durham, North Carolina. It is currently operated by First Transit, managed by GoTriangle, and funded by the City of Durham. It was renamed under the consolidated GoTransit branding scheme for the Research Triangle region. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 5,304,400, or about 15,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GoRaleigh</span> Transit system in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

GoRaleigh is the transit system responsible for operating most of the public transportation services in Raleigh, North Carolina. The system operates 27 fixed routes throughout the city's municipal area and also operates five regional/express routes in partnership with GoTriangle, the regional provider. GoRaleigh is contracted to operate two additional routes, an express route to the Wake Tech Community College campus south of Raleigh and a local circulator service in the Town of Wake Forest. Capital Area Transit, also known as CAT, was rebranded to GoRaleigh in 2015 under the consolidated GoTransit, a joint branding of municipal and regional transit systems for the Research Triangle. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 5,011,500, or about 15,500 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intercity Transit</span> Local public transit operator in Thurston County, Washington

Intercity Transit is a public transportation agency organized as a municipal corporation in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It serves Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm: an area of approximately 94 square miles (240 km2). It operates 21 bus routes, the Dial-A-Lift door-to-door service, a vanpool program, and specialized van programs.

The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) is the public transit authority of Whatcom County in northwestern Washington, based in the city of Bellingham. It provides bus service on 31 fixed routes, including branded "GO Lines" with 15-minute frequencies on weekdays, to cities in its service area. In addition to bus service, the WTA offers paratransit service and a vanpool programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfline</span>

The Wolfline is an area bus service serving the students, staff, faculty, and general public on and around North Carolina State University's campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. As of Fall 2017, Wolfline is operated by Transdev, after being operated by First Transit between 2007 and 2017, under contract with NC State's Transportation department. The Wolfline was the first mass transit organization in the state to exclusively use 'clean' diesel engines. Wolfline access is unrestricted to the public and is a zero-fare service. The preceding contractor was Veolia Transport. The Wolfline began operating in August 1980 with one route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VINE Transit</span>

VINE Transit is a public transportation service in Napa County, California, United States; it is managed under the Napa Valley Transportation Authority and operated by Transdev. The system offers extensive service throughout the county along with providing connections to other public transportation systems in adjacent counties. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 484,600, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTA BaltimoreLink</span> Bus transit service in Maryland

The Maryland Transit Administration provides the primary public bus service for the Baltimore metropolitan area and commuter bus service in other parts of the state of Maryland. There are currently 76 bus routes, which include 45 LocalLink routes, 12 High Frequency CityLink Routes routes, 8 express bus routes, 19 commuter bus routes, and 5 Intercounty Connector or "ICC" routes. The local and commuter bus routes operate in conjunction with one subway line, three light rail lines, MARC train service, and various connections to other transit agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Minnesota Campus Shuttle</span> Zero-fare bus service in Minnesota, U.S.

The University of Minnesota's Campus Shuttle is a zero-fare bus service operating on the University's Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. In 2009, the system carried more than 3.9 million riders, making it the second-busiest transit system in Minnesota after the Twin Cities's primary provider Metro Transit. It outpaces all of the suburban transit providers in the Twin Cities, as well as providers in other metropolitan areas in the state. Duluth Transit Authority serving Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is the state's third-busiest provider, while the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority ranks fourth. The shuttles are operated under contract by First Transit through the University's Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) department.

This article is intended to give an overview of transportation in North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Mountain Transit</span> Public transit system in Vermont, US

Green Mountain Transit (GMT) is the regional public transit system based in Burlington, Vermont, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of two more localized transit systems: the Chittenden County Transportation Authority and the Green Mountain Transit Authority. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 1,774,100, or about 7,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

Durham–Orange Light Rail Transit (DOLRT) was a planned 17.7-mile (28.5 km) light rail line in central North Carolina. It was intended to start operating in 2028 between North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in eastern Durham and the UNC Medical Center in Orange County. This line was being developed by regional transit agency GoTriangle, and was in the engineering phase of the federal grant approval process when it was discontinued.

References

  1. "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Town of Chapel Hill, NC. Transportation Archived September 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved September 8, 2006.
  4. Hybrid-electric Bus Offers an Alternative to Air Pollution and Foreign Oil in Chapel Hill
  5. Town of Chapel Hill – Town Manager Announces New Transportation Director Archived July 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 3 Chapel Hill Transit (2018). Rider Guide. Town of Chapel Hill.
  7. "Safe Ride Program | Town of Chapel Hill, NC". www.townofchapelhill.org. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  8. Chapel Hill Transit (2018). "NSBRT – General Public FAQ".