Wake BRT: Rapid Bus Extensions Study

The Phase 3 Comment Period Has Closed

Western Extension Recommendations

Southern Extension Recommendations

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is conducting a major investment study (MIS) that will identify and evaluate rapid bus routing options and select preferred solutions for rapid bus extensions to both of the planned Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Western and Southern Corridors. The planned Wake BRT: Western Corridor will connect downtown Raleigh to downtown Cary. The planned Wake BRT: Southern Corridor will connect downtown Raleigh to Garner.

This MIS will identify and evaluate potential alignments for rapid bus extensions and transit priority treatments between Cary and RTP and Garner and Clayton. The study will also evaluate appropriate transit service levels for each extension, including the type of transit, how often service will run, and what destinations it will serve. The outcome of this process will be a set of preferred alternatives recommended for consideration of local adoption, along with phased implementation recommendations and potential program funding opportunities.

Help Shape the Study!

View the Phase 2 Survey Results

Phase 2 of Public Engagement ended in April 2022.

Phase 3 ended in December 2022. You can still view the draft recommendation & study findings. Click the links below to review the recommendation summaries for each corridor. The final recommendations will be released in 2023. 

Rapid Bus Western Corridor Draft Recommendations

Rapid Bus Southern Corridor Draft Recommendations

About the Study

Rapid Bus

Rapid bus is a bus transit service that has four key elements: Reliability, Speed, Comfort, and Convenience.


Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a type of rapid bus service that is a high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers fast, efficient, and reliable service. Common elements of BRT include dedicated bus lanes and traffic signal priority on local roads that allows bus operators to bypass traffic and stay on schedule. BRT also involves enhanced stations and off-board fare payment to speed boarding of vehicles.

In November of 2016, Wake County voters approved a one-half percent (1/2%) sales tax to fund a plan for focused investment in public transit, which set the implementation of the Wake County Transit Plan into motion. This plan was also adopted by the CAMPO Executive Board, Wake County Board of Commissioners, and GoTriangle Board of Trustees in 2016. The plan was subsequently updated in 2021 and calls for building approximately 47 miles of varying levels of BRT infrastructure improvements along four corridors in Wake County with extensions to Durham and Johnston Counties - (Wake BRT):  New Bern Avenue, Western, Southern and Northern. You can learn more about the Wake BRT Program at https://raleighnc.gov/BRT

The Wake BRT Extensions MIS

The purpose of the MIS is to provide information to elected officials, planners, the business community, and the general public on the costs, benefits, impacts, and overall feasibility of routing alternatives that will be evaluated in each corridor to make an informed decision on preferred alternatives to carry forward for further project development. Conceptual alternatives will be identified and compared using evaluation metrics for each corridor.

Southern Extension

The Southern Corridor Rapid Bus Extension study area includes the area between Garner and Clayton, which primarily follows the US 70/US 70 Business corridor from Fayetteville Road to US 70 just south of Clayton. The proposed service would extend from the terminus of the Wake BRT: Southern Corridor (Raleigh to Garner) segment, near the Garner Station south of the US 401/US 70 interchange.

Map of southern corridor study area.

Download PDF map

Western Extension

The Western Corridor Rapid Bus Extension study area includes the area between Cary and RTP, with the following boundaries: NC 55 to the west, I-40 to the north and east, and Cary Parkway to the south. The proposed service would extend from the terminus of the Western BRT at Cary Depot.

Map of western corridor study area.

Download PDF map

Anticipated Study Schedule

Document Library

Get Involved

Public feedback was an important component to the progress of this study. Phase 1 of the study’s public engagement efforts ended in November, 2021, Phase 2 ended in April 2022, and Phase 3 ended in December 2022.

Public comments helped to share the final recommendations. The final results and recommendations will be released in 2023. 

Phase I (Fall 2021)

Educate about Rapid Bus, study purpose and goals, and seek feedback on the development of the evaluation framework to capture regional and community transportation goals and priorities.

Phase II (Spring 2022)

Share outcomes of Phase I engagement, provide an update on alternatives development, and seek input on the evaluation of alignment and station alternatives.

Phase III (Fall 2022)

Present the final project findings and the recommended locally preferred alternative for each of the corridors for public review and comment.

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Contact Us

Have a question? Please contact our study team.