Despite many town services and meetings being canceled for the upcoming weeks due to COVID-19, Chapel Hill Transit is still going strong. The transit system recently adopted its new Short Range Transit Plan, which updates the bus routes for the next decade.

The Chapel Hill Town Council recently approved the Short Range Transit Plan, which will be implemented later in the year, after hearing a presentation during its February 26 meeting. 

Brian Litchfield, Director of Chapel Hill Transit, told the council the plan is not a total overhaul, but instead works to improve the majority of existing routes and services.

“Coverage is very similar,” he said. “Where we see improvements is in the high-frequency corridors and then there’s some adjustments to simplify routes.”

The changes come after two years of gathering public input about what improvements would be most beneficial to the community. The most requested changes to come from the study were a higher frequency of buses coming by busier stops during peak travel hours and expanded service on the weekends.

According to Litchfield, that’s exactly what the community will get.

“The benefits to the system are we’re getting increased frequency in those corridors,” said Litchfield, “and we’re also getting community service on Saturdays and Sundays that we don’t have today.

While the Short Range Transit Plan will replace six routes due to some expansions and the new weekend service, Litchfield said wider changes were not made due to the budgets of all the transit partners. The Chapel Hill Town Council’s approval came after recent endorsements of the plan from the Town of Carrboro, UNC and the Chapel Hill Transit Partners. Litchfield described the plan as largely “budget neutral,” saying the goal was not to embark on a project that altered the existing allocations from all the groups.

“There are significant improvements,” he said, “but understanding none of the partners had any additional resources, beyond what is currently in the budget, we don’t have any route extensions or significant expansions.”

According to the Town of Chapel Hill website, the new routes and schedules in the Short Range Transit Plan will be implemented August 2020. It is unclear whether the ongoing spread of COVID-19 will affect these planned changes.

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill.

 

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Transit Starting Simplified Routes, Expanded Service Plan August 3
Chapel Hill Transit is set to begin its new routes and schedules for buses starting Monday, August 3. The transit system has been running on reduced operations since March in an effort to protect public health amid the coronavirus public health crisis. But soon, it will implement its Short Range Transit Plan, a years-long plan […]
Chapel Hill Transit to Expand Services as UNC Campus, Towns Prepare to Reopen
After operating with limited services during the stay at home order and Phase 1 of the coronavirus pandemic, Chapel Hill Transit will begin offering more options for riders starting next month. The transit system announced on Friday it will move to operating reduced weekday routes and schedules on Monday, June 1. Previously, Chapel Hill Transit […]
Our Town: The Story of Economic Development in Chapel Hill
This month, David Putnam and Sarah Potter, tell the story of economic development and their work to support and create a vibrant business community – so that Chapel Hill can thrive now and in the future.
Chapel Hill's 2025 Mayoral Race Gains Its First Candidate. Here's Who It Is
Chris Suttle, a cannabis lobbyist and consultant, announced his plans to run for Chapel Hill mayor during an open mic event Tuesday night.
Chapel Hill Transit Lands $24.4 Million in Federal Grants for Bus Rapid Transit Project
Chapel Hill Transit's future bus rapid transit project got a funding boost, with $24.4 million in federal grants announced Wednesday.
Christmas Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2024)
The Christmas holiday will affect several local government services. Here’s a rundown of what Orange County residents can expect.
Chapel Hill: Bus Crash Injures 1 As Vehicle Rolls After Driver's Exit
A town release said police responded to a Chapel Hill Transit bus crash at 2:48 p.m. along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Chapel Hill Transit Announces Updates For 2025, Including Routes Returning to Full Service
After operating at a deficit of service for nearly five years, the Chapel Hill Transit system is set to fully restore some of its routes in the new year. The local bus system said earlier in December that five routes with limited service times and frequency will return to full operations, as well as one […]
Electric Bus Fire Causes Chapel Hill Transit to Temporarily Pull Vehicles From Its Fleet
A fire on an electric Chapel Hill Transit bus on Tuesday is causing the local transit system to hold its other electric buses out of service.
Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County
Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, Nov. 28 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
›