These Plans Guide Transit Investments in Wake County

The Wake County Transit Planning Advisory Committee (TPAC) is requesting public input on two significant transit planning efforts that will shape local and regional transit investments in the near and long term.

• The recommended FY 2026 Wake Transit Work Plan identifies specific operating and capital investments proposed to receive funding in the upcoming fiscal year (July-June). The total proposed budget is $186.55 million.
• The 2035 Wake Transit Plan outlines a framework for transit investment from FY 2026 through FY 2035. The draft 10-year investment strategy is available for review, as well as drafted Microtransit Guidelines, the updated Project Prioritization Policy and the updated Community Funding Area Program Management Plan.

Community feedback on all available planning documents is critical to the Wake Transit planning process. Now is your chance to provide input!

The recommended FY2026 Wake Transit Work Plan contains the planned operating and capital investments that get the region closer to achieving the transit vision for Wake County. The recommended FY 2026 Wake Transit Work Plan is available for review and comment through May 15, 2025. The plan allocates:

• $64.1M of planned investment in operating projects like:
  • The continuation of existing bus services and launching several new routes
  • Services including fare collection technology and continued support for the Youth GoPass and transit assistance programs
  • Community Funding Area Program planning and operating projects
  • New microtransit programs serving Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest
• $122.45M being invested in capital infrastructure like:
  • The purchase of new buses and transit-related support vehicles
  • New and improved bus stops, transfer points, transit centers, park & ride lots, maintenance facilities, bicycle and pedestrian access, etc.
  • Continuing WakeBRT development along the Western, Triangle Town Center and Midtown Corridors

The 2035 Wake Transit Plan is Wake County’s ten-year transit investment strategy. The plan guides how we will invest nearly $3 billion between FY2026-2035 to improve and expand public transportation choices for people living in, commuting to and traveling through Wake County.

Through detailed analysis and extensive public and stakeholder coordination, a draft 10-year investment strategy has been developed to advance the Wake Transit Plan’s Four Big Moves:  

We will CONNECT THE REGION by:  

• Investing in the expansion of local and regional rail services
• Expanding the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network with new connections between Cary and RTP, Garner and Clayton, and Raleigh and RTP along I-40

We will CONNECT ALL WAKE COUNTY COMMUNITIES by:

• Expanding local and regional bus service with longer hours and service more days of the week  
• Connecting more towns to each other and to Cary, Raleigh, and/or RTP

We will CREATE FREQUENT, RELIABLE URBAN MOBILITY by:  

• Extending 15-minute service into the evenings and weekends on existing frequent routes
• Adding more 15-minute or less bus routes to the frequent transit network

We will ENHANCE ACCESS TO TRANSIT by:  

• Continuing to build and improve transit access facilities like bus stops and sidewalks   
• Doubling funding for Community Funding Area Program making it easier for towns to invest in local transit projects and services

Also available for public review are three supporting documents drafted as part of the 2035 Wake Transit Plan update process. View and provide feedback on the proposed Microtransit Guidelines, updated Project Prioritization Policy and updated Community Funding Area Program Management Plan on the Wake Transit Plan web page, https://publicinput.com/waketransit2035. The comment period for the 10-year investment strategy and these supporting documents ends on May 31, 2025.

You can access more information about the recommended FY 2026 Wake Transit Work Plan and the draft materials for the 2035 Wake Transit Plan update documents and public engagement opportunities by following the links at https://www.GoForwardNC.org/GetInvolvedWake.

You can also submit feedback and request assistance through the following methods:

• Email: publicengagement@gotriangle.org
• Phone: (919) 485-RIDE (7433)
• By Mail: GoTriangle, PE, Wake Transit

4600 Emperor Blvd, Suite 100 Durham, NC 27703