Just talked to someone in the know and TTA is going to alter their philosophy a bit. I'm not sure the scale or exactly how it will be implemented, but they are going to try to focus more on direct service/express service instead of a hub based service. That is, currently if you are going anywhere "regionally" you will probably have to transfer in RTP. What I'm hoping for is a ton of small busses with a lot of different routes, so you can really get around in Cary simply by using a combination different busses. It's an interesting approach, anyway....Southwest Airlines/Jet Blue were kicking companies like American Airlines in the ass at first because they almost all flew on a Start->Finish basis instead of a hub/spoke structure.

Example
Cary --> Chapel Hill
Currently: Bus from Cary to RTP, transfer, bus from RTP to Chapel Hill
Possible New way: Bus from RTP through Cary through Raleigh to Chapel Hill to RTP

I'm sure this'll require a lot more money.. so GL with that. I think the primary reason people don't ride the busses is because of all the damn hassles. Having to drive to a bus station is so worthless. Some HOV lanes would be nice, too. Sitting on a bus in the same traffic is just bad.


[Edited on December 19, 2006 at 12:58 PM. Reason : .]

12/19/2006 12:51:42 PM

I took TTA from cary to nc state and back for a few months my junior year. wasn't a terrible experience, except the last bus came at 5:10 (or was it 6:10), which allowed me 10 minutes or less to get from work at PackBackers to Western+Avent Ferry before missing the bus and having to bum a ride

[Edited on December 19, 2006 at 1:11 PM. Reason : after closing]

12/19/2006 1:11:01 PM

I wish I could take it to campus from Cary, but that's just not happening with 6-8:50 classes. No local government wants to really take the issue on. I tried it to work in RTP over the summer and my main complaint was the fact that you can't sleep on the bus. The seats aren't designed for it!

12/19/2006 1:12:39 PM

ha! didn't stop me

12/19/2006 1:54:40 PM

travelling saaaaalesmaaannnnn

12/19/2006 2:28:44 PM

I don't see this happening. Its the whole chicken/egg problem. I haven't been in Raleigh for about a year but I'll assume the number or riders are about the same as when I left. 1/4-1/2 full buses don't justify spending more money to create additional routes. At the same time, people aren't going to begin riding until it becomes more convenient and less time consuming which is a problem more routes would solve.

Regardless of whether or not it happens, more people need to use existing mass transit before there is any hope of having a rail system for the triangle.

12/19/2006 7:22:25 PM

Rail system won't work because it's fixed. With busses you can add/change service and routes. If we suddenly start building high density neighborhoods, then maybe.

12/19/2006 7:35:01 PM

The bus actually costs me more at $2/ride than it driving costs...BUT I would take the bus if there were sidewalks to get me from the stop in front of SAS down to my office off Weston. I can't traipse through 10" high grass and/or mud to get to work.

12/19/2006 9:50:29 PM

I took a TTA bus for the first time today. It was fine experience...except that the bus broke down half way there Luckily they got it started back up 8 minutes later.

Employees of UNC can get a free yearly pass. I'm hoping to save money by driving only to a bus stop, then taking to TTA to UNC. It does take about an hour tho, which sucks. I'm thinking of maybe getting a p/t job instead

12/20/2006 11:58:04 AM

You should ride the bus and get a job....

12/20/2006 5:57:13 PM

Quote :

"The bus actually costs me more at $2/ride than it driving costs..."

Do you still have a student ID? Isn't it free with a NCSU ID?

12/21/2006 11:50:59 AM

^CAT buses are. Are TTA buses free for State students?

12/21/2006 4:00:28 PM

I keep clicking this topic thinking it's about their new business plan.

Quote :

"All NC State University students and employees simply need to display their valid NCSU ID to ride all TTA buses for FREE! You just need your university ID."

[Edited on December 21, 2006 at 5:39 PM. Reason : http://www.ridetta.org/Bus_Shuttle/Fares_Tickets_Passes/faresTicketsAndPasses.html]

12/21/2006 5:37:44 PM