GoDurham

GoDurham, formerly Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA), is the public transit system serving Durham, North Carolina. It was rebranded under the consolidated GoTransit branding scheme for the Research Triangle region. In 2021, the system had a ridership of 4,514,800, or about 17,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2022.

Not to be confused with Durham Region Transit.
GoDurham
FormerlyDurham Area Transit Authority
Founded1991
Headquarters1907 Fay Street
LocaleDurham, North Carolina
Service typebus service, paratransit
AllianceGoTriangle
Routes21
HubsDurham Station Transportation Center
Fleet59
Daily ridership17,200 (weekdays, Q3 2022)[1]
Annual ridership4,514,800 (2021)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel, Hybrid, & Electric
OperatorFirst Transit
Websitegodurhamtransit.org

History

The City of Durham assumed the operation of the local Duke Power bus system in 1991, naming it Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA).[3]

  • 1891–1902 – Durham Street Railway Co.
  • 1902–1913 – Durham Traction Co.
  • 1913–1921 – Durham Traction Co. (Cities Service Co.)
  • 1921–1943 – Durham Public Service Co. (Cities Service Co.)
  • 1930 – streetcars discontinued
  • After 1943 – Duke Power Company

In June 2011, DATA, along with GoTriangle began to redesign all of DATA's existing routes. This was due to various issues such as traffic congestion, dangerous bus stop placement, low ridership, decreased on-time performance, and customer location needs. By June 2012, the final plan was done, where the City of Durham agreed with the plan. The new bus routes started service on September 27th, 2014.

In 2015, as part of the GoTransit naming scheme, DATA was renamed GoDurham. Total ridership, for the fiscal year 2015 was almost 6.3 million ridership.[4] The downtown terminal was relocated to a new transportation center (Durham Station) that also serves GoTriangle and Greyhound Lines buses on February 23, 2009. The building was designed by the Freelon group.

Fares & Service Hours

As of October 2022, GoDurham is fare-free until June 2023.

Fare Type Single-Way 1 Day Pass 5 Day Pass 7 Day Pass 31 Day Pass
Standard $1.00 $2.00 $8.50 $12.00 $36.00
Discount $0.50 $1.00 $4.25 $6.00 $18.00
Student Free with a GoPass
Seniors Free without ID

Almost all routes arrive at Durham Station during the :00 and :30 times. However, some routes arrive at the :15 and :45 mark.

Service operates from 5:30 am to 12:30 am on Monday to Saturday and from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm on Sunday.[5] Sunday-level service is operated during New Years, MLK Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day.[5]

There is no service on Christmas Day. Service operates on Christmas Eve, however, service ends at 7:30 pm.[5]

Fleet

The fixed-route system currently operates around 60 buses on 21 routes transporting more than 15,900 riders per week. The paratransit system includes 43 vans transporting clients to various places within the city and nearby Chapel Hill. GoDurham currently operates Gillig Low Floor buses for its fixed-route service and Goshen cutaway buses for paratransit services.

Here shows the three major bus livery changes. Left shows the simple red, blue, and yellow stripes from 2003-2009. Middle shows the red, blue, and yellow arcs from 2009-2015. Right shows the current GoDurham color livery that has been used since 2015.

The fleet livery changed throughout the years. The first livery, prior to 2003, had buses uses double blue stripes over a white body. However, with the introduction of Gillig Low Floors in 2003, buses used a white body with red, yellow, and blue stripes. However, in 2010 with the delivery of Gillig BRTs, a new livery was made, featuring a brighter color, arc scheme on the buses. Bicycle racks are fitted to the front of all buses to increase efforts for public transit. On September 2009, 20 Gillig BRT Hybrids were delivered to DATA to help efforts for clean-energy buses in the city.[6] Due to the rebranding of DATA to GoDurham, the livery was overhauled to the new branding, with a gray body and blue triangles with different hues on the back. On Earth Day 2021, GoDurham acquired two electric buses to begin their electric bus campaign.[7] GoDurham is expected to receive more electric buses by 2024, but will still acquire diesel buses for the time being.[8]

As of October 2022, here is the current bus roster,

Image Year Bus Name Fleet Numbers
 2008 Gillig
Low Floor 40' Diesel
 801-806
Total: 6 units
 2010 Gillig
BRT Hybrid 40'
 2010: 1001-1020

2012: 1201-1204

Total: 24 units

2012
 2017 Gillig
Low Floor 40' Diesel		 1701-1712
Total: 12 units
 2019 2018: 1801-1803

2019: 1901-1904
Total: 7 units

 2021 2103-2110
Total: 8 units
 Gillig
Low Floor Plus+ Electric 40'
 2101-2102
Total: 2 units

Current Routes

The service list for GoDurham are as follows. These are the current routes as of October 2022. See GoDurham site[9] for more information.

Some services are operated under the Frequent Service Network program, which provides 15-minute service during daytime hours and 30-minute service during evenings and weekends on select routes. All routes end in Durham Station, except for route 20.

Route Terminal Streets Served Notes
1 Horton Rd
Guess Rd
via Northgate Mall, North Pointe Dr, Guess Rd
  • This route serves Croasdaile Commons during weekdays.
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
2 Brier Creek Shopping Center via E. Main St, Angier Avenue. TW Alexander Drive
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & Alston Avenue with routes 12/12B
3 Glenview Station
Walmart
 via Holloway St, The Village, & E Geer St
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & The Village Shopping Center with routes 3B/3C
3B Southern High School
Freeman Road
 via Holloway St, The Village, and Freeman Rd
  • Service operates hourly service all week.
3C Alston Avenue
Main Street
 via Holloway St, The Village, and Alston Ave
  • Service operates hourly service during Mondays to Saturdays.
4 Horton Rd
North Duke Crossing
 via N. Roxboro St, N. Duke St, and E. Geer St
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
5 The Streets at Southpoint via Fayetteville St and Renaissance Pkwy
  • Frequent Service Network route.
  • Operates full 15-minute service during weekdays and 30-minute service during weekends and weekday evenings
6 Douglas St
Pratt St
 via W. Chapel Hill St, Flowers Rd, Hillandale Rd
  • Service operates 30-minute service during daytime hours, hourly service during weekends and evenings.[note 1]
  • Temporary extension service runs to Croasdaile Crossing during weekday daytime hours.
7 MLK Jr. Pkwy
Shopping Center
 via S. Roxboro St, Weaver Av, and MLK Jr. Pkwy
  • Service operates 30-minute service during daytime hours, hourly service during weekends and evenings.
8 Capps St
Alston Avenue
 via S. Roxboro St, Lawson St, and Briggs Av
  • Service operates 30-minute service during daytime hours, hourly service during weekends and evenings.[note 1]
9 Riverview Shopping Center via Dearborn Dr, Merriweather Dr, N. Roxboro Rd, and Horton Rd
  • Service operates hourly service during weekday evenings and Sundays.
  • Some buses stop at the Club Boulevard Community.
9A Riverside High School
  • Service operates hourly service during weekday daytime hours.
  • From Oxford Commons to Durham Station, both 9A/9B routes run 30-minute service in Dearborn Drive.
  • Some buses stop at the Club Boulevard Community.
9B Northern High School via Dearborn Dr, Ben Franklin Rd, and N. Roxboro Rd[note 2]
10 New Hope Commons via Chapel Hill Rd, University Drive, and Garrett Road
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & South Square.
  • Every hour, buses stop at Nation Av at Bedford St.
10B South Square via Chapel Hill Rd, University Drive, Garrett Road,
  • Service operates 30-minute service during weekdays.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & South Square.
11 Hillsborough Rd
US 15-501 SB
 via W. Main St, Hillsborough Rd, and Erwin Road
  • Service operates 30-minute service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & Duke/VA Hospitals
11B Constitution Dr
Neal Road
 via W. Main St, Hillsborough Rd, Erwin Road, and Neal Road
  • Service operates hourly service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & Duke/VA Hospitals
12 The Streets at Southpoint via E. Main St, NCCU, Alston Avenue, Riddle Road, and NC 54
  • Service operates hourly service all week.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & Alston Avenue with route 2.
  • After Alston Av, both routes combined run 30-minute service.
12B GoTriangle
Regional Transit Center
  • Service operates hourly service during weekday daytime hours.
  • Frequent Service Network route. Operates 15-minute service from Durham Station & Alston Avenue with route 2.
  • After Alston Av, both routes combined run 30-minute service.
20 Woodcroft | South Square | Duke & VA Limited[note 3]
  • Service operates 30-minute service during weekday rush-hours, making this one of two routes that only runs during rush hours
  • This route doesn't serve Durham Station, however, connections are available to routes 6, 10/10B, 11/11B and 12.
NHS Northern High School Tripper[note 3]
  • Considered part of two downtown 9B trips, however, they run non-stop to Durham Station.
  • Trips are the 4:05 and 7:05 pm bus trips from Northern High School.
  1. Due to operator shortages, daytime service is hourly until further notice.
  2. During the PM rush, two 9B trips makes no stops from Northern High School to Durham Station. While considered 9B trips, they are identified as the NHS Tripper route.
  3. Due to operator shortages, Route 20 and the NHS Tripper is temporally suspended until further notice.

Former Routes

These routes have either been merged into one route or discontinued due to DATA's bus redesign on September 27th, 2014.

Bold means these routes remained from the DATA takeover in 1991. However, were affected by the plan.

The list will not mention any existing routes that were either cut/extended and routes suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Route Destination Discontinued Replacements
BCC Bull City Connector January 2020
  • Increased resources on GoDurham's fleet and routes.
1A Northgate | North Pointe | Croasdaile Crossing
  • Route 1 runs all day. Croasdaile Crossing is served part-time during weekday daytime hours only.
1B Northgate | Guess Road | Willowdale
1N Northgate Mall 2015
  • Merged into the 1A/1B routes.
2 E. Main | Angier Ave | Page Rd Ext. January 2020
  • Merged into an extended 2 route.
2A Angier Ave | Page Rd Ext.
2B Angier Ave | Eastern Durham | The Village
  • Replaced by redesigned 3C route and merged to the 2 route.
3T Holloway St | The Village | Glenview Station 2015
  • Replaced by increased route 3 service.
5 Fayetteville St | NCCU | South Square September 2014
  • Extended to Streets at Southpoint, merging the former 7 route. South Square service was replaced by the 10B route.
5K Fayetteville St | NCCU | MLK Jr. Pkwy October 2022
  • Frequent Service Network began on Fayetteville St, resulting in the 5K being absorbed.
6 Duke/VA | American Village January 2020
  • Merged into a new 6 route, which only runs to Duke/VA Hospitals.
6B Duke/VA | Sparger Road
7 Fayetteville St | The Streets at Southpoint | NC-54 September 2014
  • Merged with the 5 route.
9 Dearborn Drive | Durham Regional Hospital | Oxford Commons
  • Route remains. However, service is extended to Riverview Shopping Center.
10 Woodcroft & New Hope Commons
  • Split into the 10A and 10B routes. 10A covers most of the former route and 10B is a new route providing additional service to South Square.
10A University Drive | South Square | New Hope Commons January 2020
  • Route 10 runs all day.
10L Jordan High School Link ???
  • Replaced by route 20.
12B Lowe's Grove Middle School 2011
  • None
13 Durham Technical Community College | The Village September 2014
  • No direct replacement. However, some sections are replaced with the 2A, 8, and 16B (now the 3C route)
14 NCCU Campus Shuttle 2010
  • None, however, service to NCCU is offered by Routes 5 and 8.
14 NC-54 | The Streets at Southpoint | Woodcroft Pkwy January 2020
  • Merged with route 12.
15 Brier Creek
  • Replaced by a extended 2 route.
16 Southern High School & The Village 2015
  • Replaced by the 3B and 23 routes.
16A The Village | NC-98 | Southern High School
  • Replaced by the 3B route.
16B The Village | Birchwood | Ross Road
  • Replaced by the 3B/3C routes.
16B Neal Middle School | Southern High School September 2014
  • Replaced by 16A route, later 3B route.
17 Snow Hill Road | Horton Road
  • Replaced by the 9A/9B routes. 9A serves Horton Rd portion and the 9B runs the 17 until Northern High School.
23 The Village | NC-98 Loop | East Durham January 2020
  • Replaced by operating the 3B route all day.

Future

GoDurham Better Bus Project

The GoDurham Better Bus Project is a program created in 2019 by the City of Durham to plan and improve current bus stops, crosswalks, and roads to both make bus stops more comfortable for riders and to speed up GoDurham service. The 18-month plan, which has five projects plans to improve major corridor routes, more attention on both Holloway Street and Fayetteville Street bus lines.[10]

Currently, GoDurham's planned projects are shown here, planned to finish by 2023-2024:

  • Bus Access Project[11] - Planned to add or improve sidewalks within 1/4 mile of all GoDurham bus stops to provide better access to bus stops.
  • Bus Speed and Reliability Project[12] - Allows for the improvement of bus service by prioritizing buses in traffic, pavement markings, and better signage.
  • Durham Station Transit Area[13] - This project will evaluate current streets in Downtown Durham taken by GoDurham buses and improving those streets to speed up service to/from Durham Station
  • Fayetteville Street Corridor[14] - This project would allow major improvements around the Fayetteville Street line (5) like enhanced bus stops which both increase reliability and safety and to speed up the (5) route.
  • Holloway Street Corridor and Village Transit Center[15] - This project will allow the same enhancements on the Holloway Street lines (3/3B/3C). This will also allow major upgrades on The Village Shopping Center.

Durham Transit Plan

The Durham Transit Plan is the plan for GoDurham's long-term future bus improvements for the city by 2040.[16] In April 2011, Durham County added a sales tax for public transit to allow this plan to happen. This plans allows for the improvement of bus stops, acquire electric vehicles, and increased 30 and 15-minute service. Durham was recently awarded $10.8 million in funding, which will allow GoDurham to advance with this plan.[8]

Current Progress

The program is currently in its middle phase. This has affected the system already. Current changes since November 2022 are:

  • Creating brand new bus terminals in The Streets at Southpoint [GoDurham 5 and 12 | GoTriangle 800] and Glenview Station [3] as part of their Bus Stop Improvement program.[17]
    • Improving 90 bus stops with benches and/or adding shelters.
  • Order six electric buses, two of them have since been delivered.
  • Increasing 30-minute service on overnights and Sundays on routes 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 10, and 11.
  • Increasing 15-minute service or Frequent Service Network on routes 5, 3/3B/3C, 2/12/12B, and 11/11B.

Future Progress

Over the upcoming years, the Durham Transit Plan will allow future service changes to be done. Some of which are major improvements.

Funding has been approved for these services, which the changes could happen in a year. These changes would be:

  • Create a crosstown route connecting Duke/VA Hospitals and Duke Regional Hospital. (route 16)
  • Extend service on routes 9A/9B to midnight, thus route 9 service would only run partially in Saturday and only run all day on Sunday.
  • Improve 75 bus stops are scheduled to be improved, with 114 more being planned.
  • Increase frequency on route 3 and add midday service on GoTriangle's 405 route.
  • Microtransit services for the East and North Durham zones.

These are the planned changes for the next five years. These are:

  • Increase all service to 30-minute frequency during weekdays, evening, and weekends
  • Create a crosstown route (route 17) between The Village [3/3B/3C] and NCCU [5/8]
  • Increase route 4 and 9 service to Frequent Service Network program.
    • Increase service to GoTriangle's 400 and 700 routes.
    • Extend the route 4 to Danube/Herbon.
  • Help fund GoTriangle's commuter rail project.
  • Rebuild Durham Station, which will provide double the lanes, weather prevention improvements, and increased security.

These other ideas are being considered to be added in the far future. These include:

  • Create a transit center in North Duke Crossing [4/9/9A/9B]
  • Acquire more buses for increased service.
  • Relocate GoTriangle's Regional Transit Center.
  • Extend Chapel Hill Transit's D route to Patterson Place.
  • Provide ideas for North Durham [4/9/9A/9B/16] and Chapel Hill Rd [10/10B] Transit Corridors.

References
  1. "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 22, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 10, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  3. "About & History | GoDurham". godurhamtransit.org. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  4. "US Federal Transportation Administration – NTD Database".
  5. "GoDurham Holiday Hours | GoDurham". godurhamtransit.org. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  6. "2009 Durham Buses".
  7. "GoDurham Adds Two New Electric Buses on Earth Day".
  8. WRAL (2022-03-15). "City of Durham to receive $10.8 million grant for public transit upgrades". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  9. "GoDurham Maps & Schedules".
  10. "GoDurham Better Bus Project | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  11. "Bus Access Project | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  12. "Bus Speed and Reliability Project | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  13. "Durham Station Transit Area | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  14. "Fayetteville Street Corridor | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  15. "Holloway Street Corridor and Village Transit Center | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  16. "Durham Transit Plan | ENGAGE Durham". engagedurham.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  17. "Bus Stop Improvements | GoDurham". godurhamtransit.org. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.