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RTA members and partners,

This week’s post focuses on the 50th anniversary of Chapel Hill Transit, a recognition for its visionary founder, and the ongoing legacy of transit leadership for Chapel Hill, and our region.

Chapel Hill Transit — 50 years (plus) of successful mobility, thanks to a visionary mayor and decades of community support

Last night I had the honor of attending a plaque dedication ceremony for the Howard and Lillian Lee Transit Center in Chapel Hill.  The operations home of the region’s largest transit system by ridership, the center is named for Howard Lee — the visionary former mayor of Chapel Hill, who spearheaded the creation of Chapel Hill Transit — and his wife, Lillian.

In the early 1970s, Mayor Lee pushed for the creation of a community transit system for Chapel Hill, even procuring the first used buses from Atlanta’s transit system to jumpstart the system. He understood the essential potential of enhanced transit for the success for all members of the community — because it could connect them to opportunity and improve their life.

Today, Chapel Hill Transit is second only to Charlotte in terms of the number of riders carried by its buses.  The transit system is celebrating 50 years of service in 2024, and it would be hard to imagine the town, or the nation’s first public university, without its robust transit system that is the result of a true community partnership between UNC Chapel Hill and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Lee’s culture of leadership has continued for decades after his public service as mayor ended, with Chapel Hill Transit being the first and by far the largest transit system in North Carolina to implement fare free transit more than 20 years ago. This policy has resulted in increased ridership and reduced mobility barriers for students, faculty, staff, commuters, and visitors to the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC Chapel Hill community.

The regional business community honors Mayor Lee’s legacy of leadership, and we look forward to the future launch of the North South BRT corridor in Chapel Hill, continued success of zero fare transit in Chapel Hill and potential expansion of zero fare transit where possible, and ongoing multimodal service to southeastern Orange County and beyond.