Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an enhanced, high-capacity bus system that offers riders faster, more frequent service than traditional bus service. BRT combines the speed of a rail transit system with the comparatively lower cost of a traditional bus system.

BRT combines dedicated bus lanes, traffic signal management that prioritizes BRT buses and boarding systems to decrease travel times for commuters. On a BRT system, riders save more than eight minutes per day on travel time in this corridor.

• BRT Only Lanes separate buses from other vehicles, resulting in faster, more efficient transportation.
• Traffic Signal Priority systems hold green lights longer for approaching BRT vehicles.
• High Capacity, Specialized Vehicles feature onboard Wifi and comfortable seating.
• Enhanced Transit Stations feature covered seating, pre-pay ticket machines, improved pedestrian crossings, cyclist access and real-time schedule information.
• Reduced Environmental Pollution for cleaner air quality.

The N-S BRT is the Town of Chapel’s planned 8.2 miles modern transit line along one of the Town’s busiest corridors. It will accommodate travel demand growth along the NS corridor, support emerging modes of transportation and leverage the existing transportation infrastructure to improve connectivity within the corridor.

The N-S BRT begins in the north at Eubanks and Martin Luther King Dr. and ends near the Southern Village mixed use development. It is the Town’s major corridor used by residents, pedestrians, commuters and students. Between 2005 and 2012, Chapel Hill Transit ridership has increased by 20 percent and buses operate at near capacity. The N-S BRT will provide enhanced efficiencies to meet growing demand for public transit.

The North-South Bus Rapid Transit (N-S BRT) project focuses on a core part of the Town’s transit investment strategy. The N-S BRT project follows the Town of Chapel Hill’s North-South Corridor Study. This phase will include an environmental review and the engineering and design of 30 percent of the N-S BRT.

During phase one of the North-South Corridor Study, Chapel Hill Transit worked with two committees that provided technical guidance and policy oversight. These committees worked with Chapel Hill Transit and its partners and community stakeholders to develop three versions of the locally preferred alternative (LPA) to improve transit within the corridor while remaining competitive for federal capital funding. 

By upgrading traditional buses to BRT vehicles that operate primarily in dedicated lanes along the corridor, enhancing stations and optimizing service schedules, the Town will meet future demand for service along the corridor and support the town’s environmental and sustainability priorities.

The results of the study outlined the key priorities for improving transit along the corridor.

1. Optimized station locations
   Optimized stations will include dedicated BRT lanes and transit-signal priority to ensure time-savings for riders.
2. Dedicated lanes
   Along most of the corridor, BRT will operate on dedicated lanes. In certain segments of the corridor, however, dedicated lanes will not be cost-effective or could result in significant, negative traffic impacts. In these cases, a BRT bus may share the lane with other transit and non-transit vehicles

The BRT line along the North-South corridor and new transit stations will complement downtown business locations and provide opportunities for increased customer traffic. BRT will expand the labor pool (people can go farther faster) and increase the timeliness of employees who rely on transit. Businesses along the corridor will be engaged throughout the design phase to ensure business needs, such as efficient loading and unloading, are met and that construction does not impact business.

One of the key benefits of BRT is that buses travel on dedicated lanes where possible, which will improve traffic flow for drivers. Increased BRT and bus ridership will also decrease the number of drivers in the corridor, helping to mitigate increasing roadway congestion.

The BRT will operate in dedicated lanes along the whole corridor EXCEPT when it travels through the UNC Campus, Downtown, and along Eubanks Road. At these locations it will operate in mixed traffic, like existing buses do.

Nearly 9,000 people are expected to use the N-S BRT daily. This represents a 43 percent increase over the number of current riders in the corridor.

The N-S BRT will run every 8 minutes during the day and every 10 – 20 minutes in early morning and at night.  The N-S BRT will operate seven days a week between 5 am and 11 pm during the week, and 8 am and 11 pm on the weekends.   Part of the study is considering how to optimize the existing local bus network to coordinate with the N-S BRT; the existing NS route would be replaced by the N-S BRT.  Because every CHT route operates through this corridor, investment in the N-S BRT will help to spread benefits of improved travel times and connectivity throughout the CHT network.  

The N-S BRT will enhance connectivity throughout the town for employees, students and residents. The existing bus network will be optimized to connect with the BRT. Bus routes that travel within the BRT corridor will also be able to use the dedicated lanes.

Bike paths and pedestrian walkways will be enhanced along the corridor to improve and support safe access to BRT stations.  Details of these enhancements (bike lanes, multi-use paths) are included in the current update to the plan, and further advancements will be made as the project is refined.

The capital cost for the construction of the N-S BRT is projected to be between $96 – $105.9M; these costs will be refined during the current phase of the project as more detailed engineering is completed. The project qualifies for Federal Transportation Administration funds, which will provide between $50 – $75M for the project. Local capital investment will be between $12M and $50M.

The Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan considered transportation corridors and desirable development. As part of the Chapel Hill 2020 exercise, the transportation planning presentation addressed greater use of public transit, bicycling, and walking. The N-S BRT project emerged as a priority to address these goals by improving transportation along the corridor and anticipating future demand.

We want to hear from you. There are many opportunities for you to get involved:

1. Neighborhood, business and stakeholder outreach
2. Public meetings
3. Community events

Click here to submit comments, ask questions and receive information on upcoming public meetings.