TOWN OF CARY TO BEGIN ITS FIRST-EVER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FIXED ROUTE SERVICE

Door-To-Door Service to Continue for Senior and Disabled Riders

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary will make history Friday, December 16, when local riders board the first buses on the new C-Tran Fixed Route Service that will provide predictable, inexpensive, and efficient travel around Cary.  As part of the new service, C-Tran will now offer three convenient fixed routes, including the Maynard Loop route, the East-West route from Donaldson Drive to the Cary Senior Center , and the North-South route from the Arboretum Shopping Center (Cary Parkway/Norwell Boulevard/Weston Parkway area) to Crescent Commons Shopping Center .

Fixed route service will be available Monday through Saturday, every 30 minutes for the North-South and East-West routes from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m.-7 p.m.  Service is also available every hour for the North-South and East-West routes from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and the Maynard Loop route from 6 a.m.- 7 p.m.  

The new fixed route system replaces the previous general public door-to-door service.  Cary citizens who are disabled or at least 55 years old will continue to have the option of door-to-door service.  System maps are available online and at the Cary Senior Center and Town of Cary Finance Department.   

“We are pleased to offer this new feature that will make getting around Town stress-free,” said Transit Planning Coordinator Ray S. Boylston.  “C-Tran riders will no longer need to call ahead to make a reservation, but instead they can enjoy the convenience of a fixed schedule that includes over 140 bus stops.  To help us celebrate this accomplishment, we are inviting all riders to ride for free through the end of January.”

After January 31, 2006 , the cost of all routes will be only $1 per one-way trip with free transfers between routes.  Riders can save money by purchasing a monthly pass for $30, good for unlimited rides that month, or an 11-day pass for $8.  Single-day tickets and passes are available for purchase on the bus with correct fare in cash.  In addition, riders can purchase a regional day pass on C-Tran buses for $4 that allows for transfers between C-Tran and Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) fixed route services.  A regional 30-day pass can be purchased through TTA.  For the seniors and the disabled, the cost of C-Tran one-way trips on the fixed route service is only 50 cents from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 “We have also made every effort to maintain easy accessibility to C-Tran for every citizen in Cary ,” said Boylston.  “Children ages 12 and older may now ride unaccompanied.  In addition, all C-Tran fixed route buses are equipped with bike racks and wheelchair access. ”   

The Town purchased five new 22-foot buses that hold a maximum capacity of 14 people for the fixed route service.  During peak hours, all five buses will be in use, and at least three buses will be in service at all other times.    

For a detailed route schedule and more, visit C-Tran on the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.

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