A guide to bus travel in Durham
For the past two years, I’ve navigated living in Durham and the greater Research Triangle area without a personal vehicle. My car-free lifestyle has led to me relying on a patchwork of walking, biking, and taking various forms of public transportation to meet my everyday travel needs. This experience has completely changed my perspective of transit in this country, as a native of the transit-rich Washington, DC area who’s never relied solely on the bus before. It’s only further emboldened my passion for safe and equitable access to transit for all.
Local and regional public transit in particular has been crucial in connecting me to my many destinations the past two years. The citywide bus network, GoDurham, and the regionwide system GoTriangle make up the majority of my transit usage. GoDurham is most effective at getting me to parts of town I may not feel comfortable biking to such as my gym or Southpoint Mall. I use GoTriangle two to three times a week to commute to work in Research Triangle Park (RTP) or to occasionally meet up with friends in neighboring Chapel Hill. Both systems are currently free to ride, with GoDurham looking to make this arrangement more permanent.
But where else do these systems reach, and how often do they run these routes?
Let’s start with GoDurham. In last week’s blog post, I shared that Durham’s bus service sees more annual ridership per capita than any other major city in North Carolina. This is in part due to a higher percentage of individuals who rely on public transportation for their daily mobility needs than neighboring Raleigh and because of the many routes within the network that see frequent service.
Here’s where GoDurham can take you from Durham’s downtown bus terminal by route:
Route 1: along Duke and Gregson Street, to Duke Homestead (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 2: along Angier Avenue, to East Durham and Brier Creek (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 3/3B/3C: along Holloway Street, to the Village and other parts of East Durham (runs every 15 minutes)
Route 4: along N Roxboro and Mangum Street, to Braggtown (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 5: along Fayetteville Street, to NCCU and Southpoint (runs every 15 minutes)
Route 6: along Chapel Hill Street, to Duke University (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 7: along S Roxboro Street, to MLK Jr. Parkway (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 8: along Lawson Street, to NCCU and Durham Tech (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 9/9A/9B: to Braggtown, North Durham (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 10/10B: along Chapel Hill Road, towards University Hill (runs every 15 minutes)
Route 11/11B: along Main Street and Hillsborough Road, towards West Durham (runs every 15 minutes)
Route 12/12B: along NC-55, towards RTP/Southpoint (runs every 30 minutes)
These frequencies mostly reflect Monday-Saturday service from 6am to 6pm, with minor deviation after 6pm and reduced hours provided on Sundays. Nearly a third of routes provide frequent service of 15 minutes.The bus is also fare-free, with the system intending to remain fare-free indefinitely.
Although GoDurham’s services are adequately reliable, I always check the myStop app and the transit feature in Google Maps to be safe, both of which show bus routes, stops, and real-time arrival and departure.
The myStop app allows you to select which buses you want to view routes and arrival times.
Based on the routes I ride most frequently, I’m most impressed with the high level of service on certain routes but dismayed with the state of bus stop facilities in parts of the city. Many of Durham’s bus stops consist of a sign installed into the ground, with no real form of seating or protection from the elements. Prioritizing the construction of protected bus shelters benefits those already relying on GoDurham’s services while potentially enticing new transit riders that can now see themselves riding the system.
The downtown bus terminal is also serviced by the following GoTriangle routes daily:
Route 400: along US 15-501, to Chapel Hill (runs every 30 minutes)
Route 700: along NC 147, to RTP (runs every 30 minutes)
These GoTriangle routes only run during peak hours:
Route 405: along US 15-501, to Chapel Hill and Carrboro (runs every 30 minutes, staggered schedule with Route 400)
Route DRX: along NC 147/I-40, to Raleigh (runs every 20 minutes)
Route ODX: along I-40/US 70, to Hillsborough and Mebane (runs every 60 minutes)
GoTriangle’s buses between Durham and Chapel Hill are among the most frequent in the entire region. Routes 400 and 405 combine for 15-minute service during peak hours on weekdays. This is a great option for folks commuting between the two cities for work.
Unlike GoDurham, I tend to view GoTriangle’s service as lacking in comparison while their facilities take the upper edge. Because they’re reaching major spots across the region, GoTriangle stops are generally more likely to have proper sheltering and seating for riders than other systems in the region. However, the frequencies from downtown Durham to RTP and Raleigh, including no direct connection to the airport, are in my eyes major hindrances to the average Durham resident seeing themselves utilizing transit. Routes 400/405 serve as a model for how GoTriangle could perhaps increase service to both locations at least during peak hours through implementing alternate routes that expand destination options.
GoTriangle’s buses also tend to delay or cancel more frequently than GoDurham. Although it’s never happened to me more than a handful of times, I always check the Umo app before heading to work to make sure my bus is departing in a timely manner. More than just a bus tracking app, Umo is the method with which GoTriangle will use when they begin collecting fares this July.
GoDurham and GoTriangle as adequate services that even those with a personal vehicle should consider for their commute from time to time. This is especially true for folks living downtown, along the Holloway Street or Fayetteville Street corridors, the West End/Lakewood area, or Old West Durham, as these neighborhoods see the most frequent bus service. However, the two systems have a long way before they are not just dependable but reach everywhere folks need them to.
In next week’s post, I’ll delve further into plans across the Triangle to improve transit, how Durham is behind the curve despite a strong base, and what improved transit across the region can look like. Until then, take care!