The largest frequent transit network in the Carolinas
In prior RTA communications, we have applauded the official launch of BRT construction in Raleigh, as well as the success of the region’s expanding frequent transit network.
For this week’s blog, we want to formally recognize the shared success of the region’s transit community — agencies, professional staff, elected leaders, partners, and the public — in the steady creation and expansion of our metropolitan frequent transit network.
The City of Raleigh’s GoRaleigh system is the largest high-frequency network in the region — and in the Carolinas. There are now around 50 center-line miles of streets served by GoRaleigh with high-frequency transit service, which we are defining as every 15 minutes or better all day during weekday hours; i.e., during morning and evening peak periods, as well as during the entire mid-day period between those peaks. Note: for high-frequency street mileage, we only count a street segment one time, regardless of the number of frequent routes serving it, and we only count it in one direction of travel. However, even if we counted each route separately, the GoRaleigh system would still be largest high-frequency network in the Carolinas, with well over 100 route miles.
GoRaleigh route 1/Capital Boulevard now comes every 10 minutes all day, making it the most frequent single transit route by a municipal agency in the state. GoRaleigh had a 42% increase in ridership last year, making it the second fastest growing transit agency in the US, and the fastest growing bus-based agency in America, among agencies with 3-15 million annual trips. The steady increase in high-frequency service, now more than 10 routes across the city, is a key part of that.
As of April 2026, the Triangle area will have the third-largest high-frequency transit network in the entire southeastern US, behind only South Florida (Greater Miami) and Atlanta. There are six transit systems in our metro area with high-frequency service — GoRaleigh and the NC State Wolfline in Raleigh, GoDurham and Duke University Transit in Durham, Chapel Hill Transit, and GoTriangle — with more than 100 centerline miles of high-frequency service. Of note, the NC State Wolfline route 40 and the Duke University Transit H-1 route both operate every 6 minutes all day, making those two university-based routes the most frequent transit routes in North Carolina.
The regional business community thanks our elected officials and professional staff across the Triangle for their leadership, persistence, and service to their community and region in the continued expansion of enhanced transit. There are multiple BRT projects underway in the region in various stages of development, from planning to construction. RTA continues to support the rapid, steady completion of the entire regional interconnected 10 corridor BRT system, in concert with our growing frequent network, and we are looking to accelerate the I-40/RDU airport exchange station and I-40 BRT investments which will link the region’s BRT corridors together.
