Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard stretching from northern Chapel Hill to downtown is one of the most heavily trafficked corridors in Chapel Hill and Carrboro during rush hour with vehicles and Chapel Hill transit buses shuffling commuters.

The traffic issues prompted conversations and a study, leading to a proposed North-South Bus Rapid Transit system. The route is planned to run from the Eubanks Road park-and-ride lot to the Southern Village park-and-ride lot.

The roadway was part of a transit study from 2013 to 2016. Findings from that study included the need to review current station locations, saying that combination of fewer stations, dedicated lanes and traffic signal priority will result in time savings along the corridor. The study also concluded that any BRT system needed to provide direct connection to UNC Hospitals and the proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project. Finally, the study concluded the BRT system “must include exclusive lanes for buses wherever possible.”

Chapel Hill Transit is working on Phase Two of the North-South BRT project, which includes an environmental study and 30 percent design of the project.

Community members can get the latest information on the project at the open house events on Monday and Tuesday. Monday’s event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church on Market Street. There will be two events on Tuesday, the first from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Public Library and the second on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Orange United Methodist Church.

You can get more information on the overall project here.

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill

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