Morrisville Transportation Plan - 2009

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16 3 Existing Conditions
3.2 Public Transportation
Not many residents of Morrisville ride public transit: probably less than two percent of all
trips are made using public transportation (a little more if school-age bus trips are includ-
ed). As fuel prices and the average age of the general public increase, the convenience
of public transit begins to look more attractive to a broader audience. Many people have
moved to Morrisville without the expectation of convenient public transit services and have
found a place with plenty of free parking and (relatively) moderate traffic levels. However,
some newcomers have lived in places where riding public transportation systems is more
common than is currently the case in Morrisville or the Triangle Region in general.
Public transit service in Morrisville is limited
currently to two public service providers: Tri-
angle Transit and Wake County Coordinated
Transportation Service Transportation and
Rural Access (TRACS); Cary transit service
(C-Tran) also operates both fixed-route and
door-to-door transit service for the elderly
and disabled along Harrison Avenue and
Maynard Loop Road just outside Morrisville.
Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA), Capi-
tal Area Transit System (Raleigh) and Wolfline
(NC State University) are also public transit
operators with services in the general vicinity.
In addition, there are private operators, such
as Classy Transportation, White Horse Trans-
portation, Inc., and airport shuttle services
to some of the hotel properties located on
Airport Boulevard. Figure 3.8 compares the
service characteristics of the current systems,
and a brief description follows.
Triangle Transit
Services. Triangle Transit (formerly Triangle
Transit Authority) was chartered by the State
Legislature in 1989, and currently operates bus, vanpool, and carpool services in the Tri-
angle Region. Fixed-Route service in the vicinity of Morrisville is provided by Route 301 and
Route 105, both stopping at the Morrisville Outlet Mall off Airport Boulevard near Interstate
40 (Figure 3.9). Route 301 connects with downtown Cary, Harrison Avenue (and C-Tran
service) and downtown Raleigh (and CAT service). Route 105 connects with downtown
Raleigh (and CAT service), as well as Hillsborough Street and NC State University (and
Wolfline service). Shuttle services complement existing routes by providing additional con-
nector service to/from Research Triangle Park. On-bus bicycle racks are available on all
fixed-route Triangle Transit buses. The regional service to Durham, Cary, and Raleigh is at-
tractive to Morrisville residents, but the few stops in Morrisville is a deterrent to additional
ridership at this point.
Hours of Operation and Fare Structure. Hours of operation are gen-
erally 6am to 10:30pm on weekdays; and from 8am to 5:30pm on
Saturdays. Fares are usually $2.00 for a one-way trip; $2.50 for ex-
press service routes. Half-price fare options are available to seniors
(over 65 years of age) and the disabled; children under 10 years
of age ride for free. Various day and package pass options are
also available that reduce the price of the general fare. Transfers
between Triangle Transit buses and from Triangle Transit to C-Tran
buses are free.
Town of Cary (C-Tran)
Services. The Town of Cary provides both fixed-route and door-to-
door services for its residents every day of the week except Sunday.
There are currently three fixed routes with coverage of Maynard
Road (loop including Walnut Street), Harrison Avenue-Kildaire Farm
Road (north-south), and High House Road-Chatham Street (east-
west) (Figure 3.9). Future plans call for splitting the north-south and
east-west routes into separate routes, as well as extending service
into the rapidly growing northwest area of Cary (west of Morrisville).
Cary no longer provides the general public door-to-door service
that it initiated in 2001. However, people aged 55 or over (soon to
be 60 and over) and the disabled are still eligible for door-to-door
service from Cary to anywhere in Wake County for medical and
employment trips. Morrisville should strongly consider any long-term
transit option aligning with the policy, fare, and route structures of
C-Tran to help ensure more seamless coordination between the two
systems. Bicycle racks are available on all fixed-route buses.
The performance of the C-Tran system is worth further examination
(Figure 3.10), since it is the only local public transportation service
provider in close proximity to Morrisville. The Town of Apex is cur-
rently partnering with Cary and is a good model for future coopera-
tion between the towns. Over the period 2002 through 2005, C-Tran
has enjoyed an average of 50% growth in ridership, and a drop in
general fund subsidization of 20% each year (thanks in large part to
becoming eligible to receive federal funding). Plans are now un-
derway to split and expand the north-south and east-west routes to
Figure 3.8 Public Transit Services in Morrisville
Provider WeekdayHours Weekday Fares Senior Fares
(Age)
Morrisville
Connection Upcoming Changes
Triangle
Transit
6am-
10:30pm
$2.00 ($2.50 ex-
press)
Half-Price
(age 65)
Morrisville
Outlet Mall
Five-Year Transit Plan may
alter routes and services
C-Tran 6am-7pm
(peak: 6am
to 9am; 3pm-
7pm)
$1.00 ($0.50 9am-
3pm for seniors;
$2.00 in-town and
$4.00 out-of-town
for door-to-door ser-
vice to elderly and
disabled)
Half-Price
(age 55)
None Short-Term changes will
extend and split both the
north-south and east-west
fixed route services; senior
age will go to 60 years;
service extensions likely for
northwest and south Cary
TRACS 6am-11am
and 1pm-
6pm (Mon.
- Sat.)
$2.00 one-way
($4.00 out-of-zone)
N/A Demand
Responsive
Current service hours are
six days per week but level
of service is dependent
upon annual grants
Sources:
Triangle Transit
C-Tran
TRACS