Pittsboro express

[Gene Galin]

Pittsboro express

About 13 percent of workers at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals drive to Chapel Hill on U.S. 15-501 from Pittsboro.

Starting next year, Pittsboro will become the third outlying town with a daily express. Chapel Hill Transit is working on three morning and three afternoon runs.

"There's been an increasing demand from university and town employees to receive bus service in this area," said Brian Litchfield, assistant director of Chapel Hill Transit.

A state grant will cover up to half the operating costs for two years, with Pittsboro and Chatham County kicking in a share. The Pittsboro express fare has not been set.

Chapel Hill Transit plans an info session Thursday on its planned weekday rush-hour express from Pittsboro to Chapel Hill. Likely stops are in downtown Pittsboro, at Lowe's north of town -- and maybe at points farther north on U.S. 15-501. Scheduled to start in early 2009.

Learn details and share your ideas with Chapel Hill transit folks Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m., in the second floor District Courtroom of the Chatham County Courthouse Annex, 12 East St., Pittsboro.

[Phineas T. Fogg]

I am curious as to whether more people work in Chapel Hill or RTP who live in the Pittsboro area.

Why do they have a shuttle going from P'boro to CH but not one from P'boro to RTP or Raleigh?

Does some entity from Chatham or Durham County need to get involved to get something like this?

I know lots of people in the Chatham county area who work in RTP, and they have to drive themselves or carpool or take a vanpool to get to work, and it's not much, or any, further than Chapel Hill is.

[randy]

not sure, but I can name 5 people I know right off the top of my head that work in CH

be nice if they made a run whenever theirs a UNC game scheduled, I'd use it all the time.  Right now I drive to Carrboro to pick up the bus for all UNC sports activities when I go

[Phineas T. Fogg]

Maybe they'd consider that Randy. I think it's a really good idea.

Isn't there some kind of shuttle that leaves the Carolina Brewery on game days?

[randy]

Maybe they'd consider that Randy. I think it's a really good idea.

Isn't there some kind of shuttle that leaves the Carolina Brewery on game days?

[VAHeel]

I think it's a lot further to RTP (depending on what, exactly, you consider "RTP.") 

It's around 30 miles to RTP and only about half that to chapel hill.

Either way, I'm sure demand had a lot to do with it, people lobbied for the CH bus, maybe the same thing could be done for a bus to RTP

I am curious as to whether more people work in Chapel Hill or RTP who live in the Pittsboro area.

Why do they have a shuttle going from P'boro to CH but not one from P'boro to RTP or Raleigh?

Does some entity from Chatham or Durham County need to get involved to get something like this?

I know lots of people in the Chatham county area who work in RTP, and they have to drive themselves or carpool or take a vanpool to get to work, and it's not much, or any, further than Chapel Hill is.

[natvrabit]

CHAPEL HILL transit...their primary focus is to serve people in CH and with needs to/from CH and private vehicle traffic reduction. They (and Carrboro) contribute HUGE sums of money into the system. P'boro to RTP would be of no "benefit" to them.
I wonder now that gas prices have fallen, will P'boro to CH have riders? Meaning daily commuters. It won't last if just a few joy riders here or there.

[belle]

UNC contributes to the bus system already, so serving their employees is in their benefit. they can't provide them parking anymore. and 15-501 is an easy route.

will this be for UNC employees only?

[natvrabit]

Yes Belle, UNC kicks in bucks also (being the primary "cause" for people in/out of the area). Of course they receive govt. funding as well. Without the system, it would REALLY be gridlock there.
I doubt they would limit the PB to CH and vice versa, just for UNC workers. UNC paid for the land/park ride lot on 15-501, therefore it is restricted to workers. I think in their vision to the future (The North campus to be built and lots of jobs, LOTS of the housing for said people landing in Chatham, they would need the 15-501 lot to keep cars out of the city). Not sure how this economic downturn will play into UNC's long range plans on the expanded campus and therefore the housing industry in this area etc.
The lot at S. Village is Town "owned", so anyone can use it. When I used it, it filled up fast in the AM.

[Claude Bowles]

I heard a piece on WCHL today that despite the fact that some developers are pulling back, UNC intends to go ahead with the "planning phase" in the hopes that the economy will turn around before the actual building begins.

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