What is the North-South BRT Project?
The Town of Chapel Hill’s North-South Bus Rapid Transit is the planned 8.2-mile line along one of the town’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares stretching from Eubanks Road in the north to the popular Southern Village in the south. As the region’s first BRT system, N-S BRT will connect employees, students, residents and visitors to their regional connections and local destinations project history.
BRT combines high-capacity buses with exclusive traffic lanes and traffic signal priority to decrease travel times and improve the rider experience. BRT is efficient and enhances transit service by providing more frequent buses, shorter travel times and more reliable service.
CAN WE TALK? Public comments collected in 2018 and 2019 on the preferred location of the NSBRT bus lanes, bus station locations, and bike and pedestrian paths were used by Chapel Hill Transit and consultants to develop a Locally Preferred Alternative which was adopted by the Town Council in June 2020.
Click here for N-S BRT Fact Sheet 
Town Council approves LPA and next steps.
Through several rounds of community meetings in the summer and fall of 2019, Chapel Hill Transit learned that the public was particularly interested in the BRT bus lanes, station locations, and bike and pedestrian access and safety. CHT, the Transit partners, and Town Council take public input into consideration when selecting the final Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Take a close look at the LPA [click here]
Why BRT?
Cities around the country are launching BRT systems to improve transit reliability, shorten travel times, reduce congestion, and support economic development.
- BRT Only Lanes separate buses from cars, allowing for faster, more efficient transportation for everyone.
- Traffic Signal Priority systems hold green lights longer for approaching BRT vehicles.
- High Capacity, Specialized Vehicles accommodate more riders than traditional buses and feature amenities such as onboard wireless internet and more comfortable seating than traditional buses.
- State-of-the-Art Transit Stations provide more amenities for transit riders including covered seating, improved pedestrian crossings and cyclist access and real-time schedule information.
- Improved Air Quality reduces traffic on roadways and mitigates air pollution.
How are cities and towns across the country using BRT to improve transit service, ease congestion and address environmental concerns?
Below is a short list of smaller U.S. cities that have launched BRT to improve transit in their communities.