CARY, NC – For hundreds of Cary residents, life becomes a little easier and a lot richer with today’s launch of C-Tran—the Town of Cary’s new, low cost, door-to-door transit system for seniors and the disabled. Since pre-registration began on June 28^th, more than 300 Cary citizens have signed up for the service and booked more than 2000 rides on C-Tran’s mix of nine new, fully accessible buses and vans which will take them ANYWHERE in Cary as well as to medical appointments in Durham, Orange, and Wake counties; disabled riders can also be able to travel to the other Triangle destinations to go to and from work.

C-Tran is available to disabled and/or seniors living in Cary. Riders must first register in person at no charge at the Cary Senior Center in Bond Park, or, if unable to come to the senior center, citizens can call the C-Tran reservation center (481-2020) to begin the registration process by phone. C-Tran staff will then schedule a time to pick up phone registrants and bring them to the Senior Center to have their picture I.D. made. Either way, registration requires proof of Cary residence as well as proof of disability or age—55 or over. C-Tran picture I.D.’s will be issued on the spot.

Once registered, C-Tran riders must purchase prepaid transit tickets; bus operators will not accept cash. Tickets sell for $2 each and come as singles or in packs of ten for $20. In-town trips require one ticket ($2 one-way). Out-of-town trips to Durham, Orange and Wake (outside of Cary) Counties require two tickets ($4 one-way). Tickets can be purchased at the Cary Senior Center, all Town of Cary Community Centers, and the Town of Cary Finance Department during regular scheduled hours. Tickets are also available by mail; call 481-2020 for an order form.

Rides are by reservation only, with one-way fares are $2 per ride within Cary, $4 one-way outside Cary. C-Tran buses operate Monday through Saturday 6:00 AM – 7:00PM. Reservations must be made no less than one day before travel and no more than up to two weeks in advance. The reservation center is open Monday through Saturday 5:00AM to 7:00PM. On Sunday, an answering machine will accept ride requests for a Monday trip, and riders will be called Monday morning to confirm.

"We’re very excited about the life changes that will come for many Cary citizens, their families, and employers with today’s launch of C-Tran," said Jim Parajon, Cary’s manager of land use and transportation issues within the Town’s Planning Department.

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