Carrboro residents who work at Duke or in Downtown Durham may soon have a new transportation choice: direct regional bus service on GoTriangle Route 405. Chapel Hill residents who work in the same places could see more fast trips this fall as well if GoTriangle implements the service proposal that is now out for public comment.

What Regional Bus Service Is Available Today Between Chapel Hill and Durham?

Currently, there are two regional bus routes operated by GoTriangle that link the Carolina Coffee Shop/Varsity Theater in Chapel Hill to Duke Hospital and Durham Station in Durham:

• Route 405, which is faster and runs during peak hours only, departures every 30 minutes
• Route 400, which covers more territory and takes 15 minutes longer than 405 to make the same trip, departures every 30 minutes

In the middle of the day, only Route 400 runs and the buses come once every 60 minutes. But there’s another quirk to the existing service- since the 400 takes an extra 15 minutes to make its trip, often times the 400 and 405 leave Chapel Hill at the exact same time, which means while there are 4 buses departing per hour, travelers only have two departure choices for the fast bus (405) since they often leave the Carolina Coffee Shop stop at the same time as the slower bus 400.

The New 405/400 Proposal: More Fast Buses Throughout the Day

There are several things to like about the proposal on the table for August of 2016:

• The proposal shortens Route 400 by ten minutes (10 minutes!) by removing service from portions of Old Chapel Hill and Southwest Durham Drive. This makes Durham and Chapel Hill closer by bus, all day long.
• The adjustment above allows buses to depart on more regular intervals (roughly 15 minutes) from downtown Chapel Hill, providing four departure choices every morning and afternoon during rush hour instead of two departure choices.
• Service is extended into Carrboro, allowing for direct access to Durham from the Abbey Court/Collins Crossings stop, as well as downtown Carrboro. Durham residents who work in Carrboro can ride it to work, too.
• Service in the middle of the day, AND on Saturday on Route 400 will now run every 30 minutes instead of every 60 minutes

Here is a map of the new service concept:

Proposed Carrboro-Durham Bus Service

GoTriangle Now Accepting Public Comments

GoTriangle is accepting public comments on this proposal until April 28, 2016.

To find out additional details about the proposal and to share your opinion, please visit GoTriangle’s Service Change Survey for Route 400/405 here.

Carrboro has had one of the highest percentages of residents using public transportation in North Carolina and the southeast for many years. I expect this service to be well-used by many residents and workers alike. If having this service come to Carrboro is important to you, please take the time to share your comments at the link just above.