Town of Cary Adds New Service Areas to C-Tran Fixed Routes, Changes Names of All Routes

New route schedules, buses & signs upgrade the level of service

December 1, 2008

CARY, NC – Cary citizens now have three more options for traveling in and around Town now that the Town of Cary has expanded its C-Tran service to include three new service areas; in addition, the Town has renamed all fixed routes so that riders can more easily identify inbound and outbound services from the Cary Train Station. Beginning today, the following name and service changes will take effect on C-Tran fixed routes:

Route Name Description

Route 1	formerly known as Maynard Loop Route 1
Route 2	formerly known as Maynard Loop Route 2
Route 3	formerly known as the northern portion of the North-South Route to and from the Cary Train Station and Harrison Square with new service provided on Cary Parkway , Norwell Road , and Weston Parkway loop.
Route 4	formerly known as the western portion of the East-West Route with new service now from Preston Corners to the intersection of High House Road and Highway 55. This extension now provides transfers directly to Triangle Transit’s 311 Route (Apex to RTP) at the intersection of High House Road and Highway 55.
Route 5	formerly known as the southern portion of the North-South Route to and from the Cary Train Station and Crescent Commons along Academy Street and Kildaire Farm Road .
Route 6	formerly known at the eastern portion of the East-West Route to and from the Cary Train Station and the Cary Towne Center Mall with extended service now to Buck Jones Road and Western Boulevard that provides a transfer connection to Capital Area Transit (CAT) Route 11c that goes to N.C. State University from Park West Shopping Center .

The new route names will allow users to identify outbound and inbound services from the Cary Train Station on Routes 3,4,5, and 6. Route 1 travels in a clockwise direction around Maynard Road while Route 2 provides service in a counterclockwise direction around Maynard Road . Both Routes 1 and 2 provide service to the Cary Towne Center Mall and Crossroads Plaza .

“C-Tran remains a popular means of getting around Cary , and we will continue to explore innovative ways to maximize the benefits of the service,” said Transit Services Administrator Ray Boylston. Boylston noted that on average, more than 85,000 passengers ride the fixed routes each year. Ridership on the fixed route service has grown an average of 25 percent per year during the past two years.

To further enhance C-Tran, the Town also adjusted the fixed route schedules to provide for quicker transfers and minimize waiting between the routes that arrive at the Cary Train Station. Buses on Routes 3, 4, 5, and 6 will all depart from the Train Station on the hour and the half hour during normal service hours. The new map and schedule brochures can be obtained at the Cary Train Station or on any of our fixed route buses.

Riders will also notice new buses and bus stop signs along the new routes. Regionally designed bus stop signs have been installed along all existing and new routes as part of the improvements. Purchased through an NCDOT grant and Cary Transit funds at a cost of approximately $1,000, the signs list the route number and major stops along each route. Also, three new 15-passenger buses have been added for the expanded service on Routes 4 and 6. The buses were purchased by the Town’s contractor and the Town will reimburse the company through a contract rate of $45.25 per hour that includes all other operating costs as well. All fixed route buses are accessible to persons with disabilities.

The Town also recently installed a bus stop shelter at the Cary Train Station for those passengers utilizing C-Tran and Triangle Transit services; the bus shelter was provided by Town funds at a cost of approximately $8,000.

C-Tran fixed route service operates Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and costs $1 per one-way trip. Transfers between C-Tran routes are free. Seniors and persons with disabilities can ride from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for only $.50 per one-way trip. C-Tran also accepts Triangle Transit monthly and day passes as fare.

For more, please visit www.townofcary.org or call (919) 485-RIDE for assistance from the Regional Transit Call Center .

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PRIMARY CONTACTS:

Ray Boylston, Transit Services Administrator, (919) 462-2080

April Raphiou, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 481-5091

Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951