What is Wake Transit?

The Wake Transit program is a taxpayer-supported investment approved by voters in 2016 to optimize public transportation in Wake County. The program's objective is to maximize connectivity between all local communities and the Greater Triangle Region. This regional vision focuses on creating more frequent and reliable opportunities for all people to access centers of commerce, education, employment, entertainment, healthcare, and recreation. By fulfilling its mission, the Wake Transit program helps enhance the quality of life for all residents by providing bus and transit opportunities and helping reduce traffic congestion.

To accomplish Wake Transit program goals, teams of transit professionals within GoTriangle and the NC Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) partner together to lead the development of an annual budget and strategy known as the Wake Transit Work Plan. GoTriangle and CAMPO collaborate with Wake County’s municipalities, state and federal agencies, higher education, corporations, businesses, community organizations, and members of the public to determine the goals and track the progress of the Annual Work Plan.

The Wake Transit Work Plan funds service investments and capital projects that will improve Wake County’s transit network in the upcoming fiscal year, July 1-June 30. Funding for Wake Transit is made possible through a half-cent sales tax, portions of vehicle registration fees and vehicle rental tax revenues, federal and state contributions, existing local revenues that fund current transit services, and fares paid by bus and potentially future commuter rail customers.

Examples of key investments and projects of the Wake Transit Work Plan include the following:

  • Bus Plan Study
  • Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) planning & construction
  • Bus route optimization
  • Bus stop upgrades
  • Greater Triangle Commuter Rail (GTCR) feasibility study
  • Microtransit feasibility study
  • Raleigh Union Bus Station (RUS BUS) study and construction
  • Wake Access bus services

Wake Transit Partners

Guidance and oversight of the Wake Transit program is outlined in the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement (ILA).

Components of the ILA include the following items:

  • Definitions and an outline of the Wake Transit Plan and other required program documents
  • Establishment of the Transit Planning Advisory Committee (TPAC)
  • The core responsibilities assigned to the three ILA signing agencies
  • Roles of transit service providers and other program partners
  • The specific steps to develop and approve the annual Wake Transit Work Plan
  • Guidance for capital and operating ordinance and agreement execution
  • Ongoing and annual reporting structures

The TPAC is responsible for coordinating the planning and implementation aspects of the Wake Transit program. It serves in an advisory role to the two Wake Transit governing boards: the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Executive Board and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees. The ILA outlines the general responsibilities for these two lead agencies. The ILA also established core responsibilities for the lead agencies, including program implementation tasks, tax district management, financial administration, public engagement and communication, and the associated decision-making structures and responsibilities of each.

Voting members of the TPAC include: CAMPO, GoTriangle, Wake County, City of Raleigh, Town of Cary, Town of Apex, Town of Fuquay-Varina, Town of Garner, Town of Holly Springs, Town of Knightdale, Town of Morrisville, Town of Rolesville, Town of Wake Forest, Town of Wendell, Town of Zebulon, North Carolina State University and the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina.

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