Chapel Hill Transit

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A bus stop served by Chapel Hill transit.

Chapel Hill Transit operates public bus and van transportation services within the cities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in area of the southeast corner of Orange County, North Carolina. Chapel Hill and Carrboro are contiguous municipalities. Chapel Hill Transit began operations in August 1974^[1]. The total ridership, including fixed route, EZ Rider and Shared Ride Feeder service, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 was $5,871,988. The system is subsidized in part by out-of-area taxpayers. ^[2]

[edit] History

In the early 1970’s, 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. ^[1] 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. ^[1] 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.^[1] Although the transit system is operated by the town of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC are financial partners in the operations.^[1] 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.^[1] In fiscal year 1980-1981 the Carrboro contract first included the EZ Rider.^[1]

In 1992, Chapel Hill Transit has teamed up with the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition and Ebus, a California company that manufactures electric buses, to demonstrate a 22-passenger bus that promises cleaner air and reduced dependence on foreign fuels. ^[3] 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. ^[4] In August 2006, Chapel Hill Transit announced that all of 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 phones. The controversial project will be completed by NextBus Inc.. ^[5] Fourteen bus stops would also have digitized signs showing the estimated arrival times of buses. ^[6] The cost of installing the signs is as much as $949,025. ^[7] Signs would be installed at 14 bus stops, costing approximately $67,857 per sign. Due to this purchase, Citizens Against Government Waste named David Price, Porker of the month. ^[8]In September 2006, Chapel Hill Transit announced that the town plans to buy begin purchasing hybrid buses. The town planned to buy as many as 19 new buses: three hybrids, several extra-long and the rest standard size. ^[9] In October 2006, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved the purchase of 16 new Chapel Hill Transit buses at a cost of $5.8 million from Gillig Corp. Federal grants are providing about $5.2 million, and the town is providing approximately $600,000 in local funds. Three of the sixteen new buses run on gas-electric motors. The rest of the basses run on diesel fuel. The buses, to be delivered in July 2007, were meant to expand the system and replace older buses. The town has an additional $1.7 million in federal funding which would be sufficient to purchase four 60-foot buses, each with two sections that allow them to flex in the middle. All of the purchased buses are low-floor buses with interior floors at curb level. ^[10]

[edit] Services

The Chapel Hill Transit system consists of 27 distinct routes, 7 of which operate during evenings, 8 of which operate on Saturdays, and 2 of which operate on Sundays. ^[1] Three late night, "Safe Ride routes" operate on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on 3 routes during the University school year. Chapel Hill transit currently owns 83 buses and 11 lift-equipped vans.^[1] The basic hours of operation are from early morning to evening. Eight Park and ride lots are also available. Connections to other local transit systems, Orange Public Transportation and Triangle Transit Authority are available. ^[1]

The Shared Ride Feeder service is available for passengers from areas that do not receive regular bus service.

[edit] Shared Ride Feeder

A free Weekday Shared Ride Feeder is available for areas that do not receive regular bus service. ^[1] Shared Ride Feeder operates during night time, and transportation is provided within the service zone and designated transfer points where connections can be made with fixed route bus service. Evening and Sunday Shared Ride service also provides service to areas of town that do not have regular evening and Sunday bus service. The evening Shared Ride service also operates during the night time on full service weeknights and on full service Sundays. During reduced service periods, weekday evening service ends during late evenings and the Sunday service ends during early evenings. Unlike the Weekday Shared Ride Feeder, the Sunday and Evening Shared Ride Feeder service isn't free.

[edit] EZ Rider Service

A free EZ Rider service provides a demand-responsive transit service for the handicapped and elderly that are unable to use the regular fixed route service. ^[1] The service operates from morning to evening on weekdays and on Saturdays.

[edit] Tarheel Express

Express bus service is provided for each UNC home football and basketball game as well as most concerts at the Dean Smith Center.^[1] Service begins one and a half hours before the scheduled start of an event, and return trips begin immediately after each event and continue for approximately half an hour.

[edit] Bike and Ride Program

The free Bike and Ride Program permits bus riders to bring their bicycle along on the bus.Special racks, with a capacity of two bikes, are mounted on the front of the buses. ^[1]

[edit] References