BRT and Transit Overlay District Zoning: How We Got Here

As part of RaleighForward’s mission, we present factual information and data about complex policy choices in ways that help inform residents.  Currently, Raleigh is reviewing the New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (“BRT”) line. The New Bern BRT is the first of Raleigh’s four planned BRT lines proposed as one component of the 2016 Wake Transit Plan (“WTP”). The WTP was developed with the help of Jarrett Walker, an internationally recognized expert in transit systems. After an extensive community engagement effort, the final WTP was approved individually by the governing Boards of all Wake County municipalities, as well as the Wake County Board of Commissioners. The underlying WTP funding mechanism was then put on the ballot and approved by voters in 2016.

The WTP is a comprehensive transit plan with multiple components ranging from adding many new bus stops, expanding frequent bus service, increasing the number of bus routes connecting Wake’s municipalities, as well as a commuter rail system connecting Durham, Wake and Johnston Counties (though the commuter rail component of the WTP was recently delayed indefinitely due to the Federal Government’s decision not to provide any funding for commuter rail). Since 2016, Wake County, Raleigh, as well as all other Wake municipalities have been working to implement various components of the 2016 WTP. 

The following timeline is intended to illustrate how the New Bern Avenue BRT and the associated Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CP-7-22) and Transit Overlay District zoning case (Z-92-22) relate to the 2016 WTP.  The timeline also demonstrates the extensive engagement process and numerous decision points that have brought Raleigh to this point as it considers how and where to apply the New Bern Avenue Transit Overlay District. Given the complexity of funding and building a comprehensive transit system, it’s critical for residents to understand how each discrete component contributes to implementing the 2016 WTP.

While reviewing the timeline, if you are interested in delving more deeply into anything referenced in the illustration, all of the backup information is available here.