If driving, riding or walking around the greater Chapel Hill community, you may see some familiar faces on the side of a bus.

Chapel Hill Transit recently unveiled its new bus wrap, honoring some of the transit system’s and Town of Chapel Hill’s frontline employees. Chapel Hill Transit Director Brian Litchfield shared photos from the Friday event, which saw several people in attendance to see whose faces would be displayed on the bus.

The wrap, titled “Heroes Work Here,” features more than a dozen people who work with Chapel Hill Transit, as well as the town’s Parks and Recreation department, public library, police department and fire department.

Litchfield spoke with 97.9 The Hill during Chapel Hill Transit’s Team Member Appreciation Week in March. He said while transit employees ought to be recognized regularly for their work, their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic should particularly be celebrated.

“In addition to doing all the things they normally do, they’ve adapted to not only new work environments and safety requirements to help our customers be safe,” Litchfield said, “but also significant changes in their personal lives. Our folks have had to do all those things while getting up every day and coming in to drive a bus or fix a bus. We think it’s incredibly important to celebrate their success.”

With vaccination rates improving across the Orange County community and indoor capacity limits beginning to ease, more community members may turn again to public transit as a method for getting around town. Litchfield said while he understands not everyone being ready to use public transit again, the system has implemented several safety measures recommended by the CDC and local health officials. Those steps, and regular cleanings of the bus interiors, all fall to the frontline transit employees being honored with the new bus artwork.

“I appreciate our team members that have kept us rolling through COVID,” Litchfield said. “I appreciate our community support, our elected officials and our partners in the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro and [UNC.] Their support has been absolutely fantastic. And we appreciate everyone who has been supporting us by riding or supporting us by sending kind words.”

More details on Chapel Hill Transit’s routes, services and public health measures can be found on the Town of Chapel Hill’s website.

 

Photo via Brian Litchfield/Chapel Hill Transit.

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