GoRaleigh

From Justapedia, unleashing the power of collective wisdom
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For the bus system in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, see Capital Area Transit (Harrisburg).
GoRaleigh
File:GoRaleigh Logo.png
GoRaleigh Operational Facility.jpg
GoRaleigh Operational Facility
Founded1881
HeadquartersGoRaleigh Operational Facility 4104 Poole Road Raleigh, NC 27610
LocaleRaleigh, North Carolina
United States
Service area125 square miles
Service typebus service, express bus service, park and ride
AllianceRaleigh Transit Authority
Routes39
Stops1,300
HubsGoRaleigh Station (214 South Blount Street)
Raleigh Union Station (future)
StationsGoRaleigh Station & Crabtree Mall
Fleet116
Daily ridership15,500 (weekdays, Q2 2022)[1]
Annual ridership4,173,800 (2021)[2]
Fuel typeBiodiesel, Electricity, Hybrid, CNG
OperatorTransdev
Websitegoraleigh.org

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 2021, the system had a ridership of 4,173,800, or about 15,500 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2022.

History

Early days

Electric street cars on Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC in 1910.

Previous to the GoRaleigh system, Carolina Power & Light Company provided public transit to the city, starting in 1886 with mule-drawn vehicles and covering routes in 1 square mile (3 km2) of central Raleigh. In 1891, the mule-drawn service came to an end, and the electric streetcar service began. The streetcars served several routes, covering about 2 square miles (5 km2) of the city. Due to rapid advances in automotive technology at that time, in 1933 all electric streetcar services ended, replaced by gasoline-powered buses. Ridership remained strong until the 1950s, when the popularity of private vehicles began to reduce transit ridership nationwide.

  • 1881–1894 – Raleigh Street Railway
  • 1894–1908 – Raleigh Electric Co.
  • 1908–1921 – Carolina Power & Light Co.
  • 1921–1925 – Carolina Power & Light Co. (Electric Bond & Shares Co.)
  • 1925–1946 – Carolina Power & Light Co. (National Power & Light Co.), operating from 126 N. West Street, Raleigh
  • 1930s – streetcars discontinued
  • 1946–1950 – Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L).
  • 1950–1958 – White Transportation Co.
  • 1958–1975 – Raleigh City Coach Lines (City Coach Lines, Inc.)
  • 1975–2015 – City of Raleigh/Capital Area Transit
  • 2015–present – City of Raleigh/GoRaleigh
A newly delivered bus, built by Twin Coach, is inspected in 1941 at the Carolina Power & Light Car Barn and Automotive Garage in downtown Raleigh. The building, located at 126 N. West Street, is now the home to Clouds Brewing.

In the mid- to late 20th century, CP&L ended its operation of transit services in the city, and the current publicly owned Capital Area Transit system was created. Capital Area Transit formerly rebranded its system to GoRaleigh in 2015.[3]

Current system

GoRaleigh System Map, August 2017.

Layout

GoRaleigh provides public transportation to areas known colloquially as inside the beltline and outside I-440, as well as contracted service to the Town of Wake Forest and to Wake Tech Community College. The system operates on a hub and spoke-style layout, with most routes beginning and ending at the newly renovated GoRaleigh Station, formerly known as Moore Square Station, in downtown Raleigh. The "L" routes circulate through an area or operate as a cross-town route and link with one or more "spoke" routes. The "X" routes are express routes which operate non-stop or with limited stops along the body of the route. Stops on these routes are generally available only at the beginning and end points of the route. Longer distance routes are operated by the intercounty GoTriangle system.

GoRaleigh publicly posts its General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data so riders can easily plan their trips using services such as Google Transit in Google Maps. GoRaleigh also supports the Transloc Rider App that offers real-time bus location through its GPS equipped fleet.

Standard GoRaleigh bus at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

The R-Line

See main article R-Line (Capital Area Transit).

The R-Line began service on February 13, 2009. The route is served by three specially designed hybrid-electric buses, powered by bio-diesel fuel. The buses, operating along a route resembling an inverted U, stop at 25 specially designed bus-stops throughout downtown Raleigh. Service frequency is every 15 minutes. In order to maximize frequency two buses operate on the circulator route at all times, while one bus serves as back-up in the event of mechanical failure. The R-Line is a free circulator service.

GoRaleigh Station

Renovations to GoRaleigh Station, formerly known as Moore Square Station, were completed May, 2017. What was once a cavernous tunnel that lacked informational signs was transformed into a spacious terminal with additional seating and LCD monitors that provide real time bus arrival information. The station is accessible to pedestrians from Blount Street, Hargett Street, Wilmington Street or Martin Street and features a centrally located information and ticket booth staffed by GoRaleigh employees.

The bus station was re-designed to accommodate more buses and more riders as a result of the Wake Transit Plan, which county voters approved in 2016. The station currently serves 35 bus routes per day and nearly 80 buses per hour during peak hours. The station is designed to support up to 150 buses per hour once the Wake County Transit Plan is fully implemented.

  • Schematic design of GoRaleigh Station.png
  • GoTriangle Bus at GoRaleigh Station.jpg
  • Platform E at GoRaleigh Station.jpg
  • North Entrance GoRaleigh Station.jpg
  • Bus exiting South entrance of GoRaleigh Station.jpg

Route List

Number Route
1 — Capital Blvd Triangle Town Center via Capital Boulevard to downtown Raleigh[4]
2 — Falls of Neuse Falls of Neuse Road via Wake Forest Road to downtown Raleigh[5]
3 — Glascock Mordecai via Glascock Street to downtown Raleigh[6]
4 — Rex Hospital Rex Hospital via Hillsborough Street to downtown Raleigh[7]
5 — Biltmore Hills Biltmore Hills via Rock Quarry Road to downtown Raleigh[8]
6 — Crabtree Pleasant Valley and Crabtree Valley Mall via Glenwood Avenue to downtown Raleigh[9]
7 — South Saunders Garner Station via South Saunders Street to downtown Raleigh[10]
7L — Carolina Pines Connector Carolina Pines to Biltmore Hills via Rush Street and Cross Link Road[11]
8 — Six Forks Six Forks Station and North Hills via Six Forks Road to downtown Raleigh[12]
10 — Longview Longview via Oakwood Avenue to downtown Raleigh[13]
11 — Avent Ferry Trailwood via Avent Ferry Road to NC State University and downtown Raleigh[14]
11L — Buck Jones Connector Athens Drive and Lake Johnson via Avent Ferry Road to NC State[15]
12 — Method Method via NC State and the Village District to downtown Raleigh[16]
13 — Chavis Heights Chavis Heights to downtown Raleigh[17]
15 — WakeMed New Hope Road and WakeMed Raleigh via New Bern Avenue[18]
15L — Trawick Connector New Bern Avenue to Capital Boulevard via Trawick Road and Skycrest Village[19]
16 — Oberlin Crabtree Valley Mall and the Village District via Oberlin Road to downtown Raleigh[20]
17 — Rock Quarry Battle Bridge via Rock Quarry Road to downtown Raleigh[21]
18 — Poole-Barwell Battle Bridge and Worthdale via Poole Road to downtown Raleigh[22]
18S — Poole Worthdale via Poole Road to downtown Raleigh[23]
19 — Apollo Heights Apollo Heights and South Park via Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to downtown Raleigh[24]
20-A — Garner Loop A Garner and White Oak Crossing via Garner Road to downtown Raleigh[25]
20-B — Garner Loop B Garner and White Oak Crossing via Vandora Springs Road & Garner Road to downtown Raleigh[25]
21 — Caraleigh Caraleigh via Lake Wheeler Road to downtown Raleigh[26]
22 — State Street Biltmore Hills via State Street to downtown Raleigh[27]
23L — Millbrook Connector Crabtree Valley Mall via Millbrook Road to Capital Crossing[28]
24L — North Crosstown Connector North Hills and Duke Raleigh Hospital to Capital Crossing[29]
25L — Triangle Town Link Spring Forest and Durant to Triangle Town Center[30]
26 — Edwards Mill PNC Arena to Crabtree Valley Mall via Edwards Mill Road[31]
27 — Blue Ridge NC State Fairgrounds and Rex Hospital via Blue Ridge Road to Crabtree Valley Mall[32]
33 — Knightdale Knightdale to New Hope Road via Knightdale Boulevard[33]
36 — Creedmoor Brennan Station via Creedmoor Road to Crabtree Valley Mall[34]
40X — Wake Tech Express Wake Tech to downtown Raleigh[35]
55X — Poole Road Express Poole Road to downtown Raleigh[36]
70X — Brier Creek Express Brier Creek via Glenwood Avenue to Crabtree Valley Mall[37]
401X — Rolesville Rolesville via US 401 to Triangle Town Center[38]
R-Line — Free Downtown Circulator No-fair route from White Oak Crossing via Vandora Springs Road & Garner Road to downtown Raleigh
WFL-A — Wake Forest Loop (Clockwise) Downtown Wake Forest to Wakefield Commons[39]
WFL-B — Wake Forest Loop (Counterclockwise) Downtown Wake Forest to Wakefield Commons[39]

Future

Five-year plan

In 2002, Capital Area Transit (CAT) spent $200,000 to hire consultants to come up with a five-year plan to improve public transit in Raleigh. At that time, most bus schedules were ten years out of date. It wasn't until fiscal year 2006 that the city council gave CAT the additional funding needed to begin implementing year one of a five-year plan. At the start of the fiscal year 2007, Raleigh City Council gave CAT the additional funding needed for year two of the five-year plan (which took effect on bus routes in January, 2007).

Despite the city budget providing CAT with additional funding for year three of the five-year plan for the fiscal year 2008 (July 2007-June 2008) and additional funding for year four of the five-year plan for the last quarter of the fiscal year 2009,[40] these changes were never implemented because tax revenues had been lower than expected and the funds were not available.

The city budget for the fiscal year 2010 notes that "The FY 2010 budget represents the implementation of delayed transit services from last year... year three of the Transit Plan will begin January 2010 and will result in reduced headways on Route 15 Wake Med, a new route in Southeast Raleigh, and a series of other small service changes."[41] However, the implementation of these changes continues to be delayed due to budget shortfalls.

In May 2008, the North Carolina Board of Transportation awarded CAT with $3.5 million for 13 additional buses (which CAT received in June, 2009) and $2.8 million to purchase land and design a new administration building and garage, which is now located on 23 acres (93,000 m2) off of Poole Road. Additionally, $7.6 million of stimulus money has been awarded to CAT towards the garage. In May 2011, the new facility was opened.[42]

On August 6, 2017, GoRaleigh expanded its Sunday service as described in the first round improvements of the Wake County Transit Plan.[43]

Bus Rapid Transit

Future GoRaleigh BRT Routes.

The Wake County Transit Plan includes the future implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes sometime between 2018 and 2023.[44] BRT involves building dedicated bus lanes on local roads, so bus operators can bypass traffic and keep their routes on schedule. To implement BRT for the first time in Wake County, the plan will construct approximately 20 miles of BRT-related infrastructure improvements. About 20 miles of BRT infrastructure have been identified including New Bern Avenue between Raleigh Boulevard and WakeMed; Capital Boulevard between Peace Street and the Wake Forest Road intersection; South Wilmington Street towards Garner; and Western Boulevard between Raleigh and Cary. Along these corridors, buses would have priority treatment at traffic signals, BRT stops will feature raised platforms, making it easier for passengers with wheelchairs, strollers or bicycles to board the bus.

Funding

For FY 2010, CAT's operating budget was $15,439,636, a 1% decrease from the previous fiscal year's budget of $15,596,444. This ended a four-year streak in which CAT had seen an increase in funding to meet the demands of the five-year plan. Of CAT's budget, $10,369,966 is from the city, with additional funding coming from the state, passenger revenue (estimated farebox revenue for FY 2010 is $2,480,623, but it is unclear whether this includes bus pass sales or GoPass contracts, as in past city budgets this was separated), and miscellaneous sources (such as grants and advertising).[41]

Ridership

Ridership for GoRaleigh 2002–2018
Comparison of GoRaleigh ridership to average mid-Atlantic region gasoline prices

According to the Raleigh City budget for the fiscal year 2010, ridership levels averaged over 14,000 each business day, up from 13,000 for the fiscal year of 2008, 11,000 in 2005 (when gas prices began to climb after Hurricane Katrina), and 8,000 in 2002.[45]

Other transit services in Raleigh

GoRaleigh Access

GoRaleigh Access, formerly Accessible Raleigh Transportation (ART), is the City of Raleigh's transportation service for people with disabilities. GoRaleigh Access programs help ensure an outstanding quality of life for everyone in the City of Raleigh. GoRaleigh Access enables eligible persons to access public transportation. GoRaleigh Access trips are eligible for paratransit service only if the trip begins and ends within 3/4 miles of a GoRaleigh bus stop.

GoTriangle

Main article: GoTriangle

GoTriangle (formerly Triangle Transit or the Triangle Transit Authority), is a regional transit service that connects Raleigh with neighboring cities, suburbs, Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Research Triangle Park. GoTriangle also organizes a vanpool program serving the Research Triangle metropolitan region.

Wolfline

Main article: Wolfline

The Wolfline operates nearly a dozen routes that serve the NCSU (North Carolina State University) community and surrounding areas in west Raleigh. In addition to serving NCSU students, faculty and staff, the Wolfline system is available for use by the general public.

Pepsi Caniac Coach

The Pepsi Caniac Coach are shuttles that provide transportation between Downtown Raleigh and North Hills restaurants to the PNC Arena on Carolina Hurricanes gamedays and other events at the arena. The two routes started in 2013 due to a lack of public transit to the arena. The service is free for diners who purchase Pepsi-branded beverages at participating restaurants.

Long distance transit services

The city of Raleigh is also served by Amtrak by train, Raleigh-Durham International Airport by air and Greyhound by bus.

References

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. August 29, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 10, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Triangle Region's Transit Providers Have New Name | raleighnc.gov". www.raleighnc.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  4. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 1". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 2". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 3". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  7. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 4". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  8. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 5". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 6". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  10. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 7". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  11. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 7L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 8". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 10". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  14. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 11". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  15. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 11L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  16. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 12". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  17. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 13". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  18. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 15". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  19. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 15L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  20. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 16". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  21. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 17". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  22. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 18". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  23. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 18S". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  24. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 19". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  25. ^ a b "GoRaleigh Route 20". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  26. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 21". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  27. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 22". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  28. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 23L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  29. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 24L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  30. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 25L". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  31. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 26". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  32. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 27". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  33. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 33". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  34. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 36". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  35. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 40X". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  36. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 55X". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  37. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 70X". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  38. ^ "GoRaleigh Route 401X". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  39. ^ a b "GoRaleigh Route WFL". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2016-09-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "Completed Construction Management Projects".
  43. ^ "Taking a bus to RDU is about to get easier, and here's good news for other riders, too". newsobserver. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  44. ^ "Wake County Transit Plan" (PDF). Wake Transit. August 15, 2017.
  45. ^ "Independent Weekly: News: Feature: Getting on the Bus". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2006-07-18.

External links

Retrieved from "https://justapedia.org/index.php?title=GoRaleigh&oldid=1106151120"