Go! Chapel Hill - Command Your Commute!  

Go! Chapel Hill's NEW WEBSITE 

Go! Chapel Hill is proud to introduce a new and improved website. It's currently in its trial stage, but the new format will eventually allow for a better online experience. Both sites will be updated on the latest news about alternative transportation in and around Chapel Hill until the new site is completely up and running.  We welcome your feedback in this process. So please visit the new site here and feel free to email us if you have any suggestions on how we can improve Go! Chapel Hill!

May is Bike Month!

The Town of Chapel Hill strives to be a healthy place to live and play and encourages everyone to use bicycles for work, errands or recreation. May is Bike Month, with special events including:

For more information on Bike Month Events, please visit the Go! Chapel Hill Events Page.

Welcome to Go! Chapel Hill - The place to learn how to lead a more active life, while decreasing your dependence on automobiles, in our community - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Researchers are showing increased interest in the link between our built environment - such as neighborhoods, roads, sidewalks - and our health.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, "the interaction between people and their environments, natural as well as human-made, continues to emerge as a major issue concerning public health."  What's clear is that ditching the car is not only good for our environment, but good for our waistlines as well.  Therefore, this site aims to give you the resources you'll need to leave your car at home and lead a more active lifestyle. 

How can you lead a more active lifestyle everyday?  A brief list of the many ways is below.  You can follow the links on this web site for more information on these and other ways to be more active. 

  1. Ride the Bus - Chapel Hill Transit offers fare-free bus service throughout the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  Additionally, Triangle Transit offers service from Chapel Hill to destinations throughout the Triangle, such as Raleigh and Durham.  The short walk to and from the bus stop may seem like a small step towards a more active life, but it quickly adds up.  Additionally, public transportation is a sustainable method of transportation in an age where gas prices are unstable and global warming is increasingly a concern.
  2. Bicycle - Chapel Hill and the surrounding area offers cyclists several miles of exclusive bikeways and bike lanes along many roads.  Like public transportation, using a bicycle to commute or run errands is another sustainable method of transportation that is also beneficial to your health. 
  3. Walk - If you're not in a rush, slow down and enjoy a walk along Chapel Hill's extensive trail system, sidewalks, and designated walking loops.  The town continues to take steps to promote walking by improving the sidewalk network and other pedestrian infrastructure. 

Please take some time to explore our web site and learn more about how to Drive Less & Live More!  Current News and Events can be found below!

Go Triangle - Your Link to Transportation 

Take time to explore the web site of Go Triangle, your link to Transportation for the entire Triangle region.  You can use Go Triangle to learn how to get to points throughout the Triangle using Triangle Transit and the other transit providers in our region, including CAT (Raleigh) and DATA (Durham).  Click the Go Triangle logo to visit www.gotriangle.org

www.gotriangle.org

Triangle Transit News

**Newman Center Bus Stop Closure

The bus stop at the Newman Center will be closed (beginning late January 2010) for approximately the next eighteen (18) months due to construction on Pittsboro Street. A temporary bus stop will be located at 210 Pittsboro Street (News Services Building) near the intersection of Cameron Avenue.

The right hand lane of Pittsboro Street (beyond the temporary bus stop to McCauley Street) will be closed. The left hand lane will remain open during this time. Triangle Transit and Chapel Hill Transit routes may experience schedule delays as a result of the lane closure. Triangle Transit and CHT will make every attempt to maintain schedules but is advising customers to expect delays and to allow extra travel time.

Chapel Hill Transit Service Advisories

**Chapel Hill Transit To Conduct Passenger Survey

In an effort to provide better service to its valued customers, Chapel Hill Transit will be conducting an onboard passenger survey the week of May 17, 2010. During the survey period, CHT drivers will be asking passengers to fill out a paper survey as they board the bus.

The survey should only take three to five minutes to complete and is completely voluntary and anonymous. The survey is designed to cover topics such as convenience of routes, service levels and availability of information. CHT is requesting customer feedback that will help to improve its service to the public.

The information derived from the survey will be used in developing public transportation service improvements and provide a basis for developing future public transportation plans. Surveyed passengers are asked to return completed surveys to CHT drivers. Passengers can also mail surveys to: CHT - Passenger Survey, 6900 Mill House Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

** Chapel Hill Transit Releases Summer Break Schedule

CHT will begin its Summer Service Schedule on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The following weekday routes will end earlier in the evening:

CM route - 7:47 p.m. at Jones Ferry park and ride lot
CW route - 6:45 p.m. at Jones Ferry park and ride lot
D route - 8:03 p.m. at UNC Hospitals
J route - 7:24 p.m. at Rock Haven Road
NU route - 8:40 p.m. at the PR lot
V route - 8:06 p.m. at Southern Village park and ride lot

The following changes will also go into effect on May 8, 2010:

The U and NU routes will not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

Safe Rides will not operate beginning Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Shared Ride Services will end at 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.

**Minor Adjustment to the RU Route Schedule

Beginning Monday, May 10th, the RU route will operate every fifteen (15) minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 8:22 p.m.

**Route Detours and Possible Schedule Delays Due to Lane Closures on South Columbia Street

Chapel Hill Transit is advising its riders to expect route detours and possible schedule delays beginning Monday, May 10, 2010, due to lane closures on South Columbia Street between South Road and Cameron Avenue. Lane closures are expected to last until August 2010.

CHT will be implementing a detour on the CPX, CM and JFX routes due to lane closures on South Columbia Street between South Road and Cameron Avenue until further notice.

The CM route will be detoured along West Franklin Street, left on Merritt Mill Road to continue regular route. The westbound bus stops on Cameron Avenue (heading to Jones Ferry Road) will not be served. Passengers on Cameron Avenue may board the detoured bus at the following bus stops: Abernathy Hall, Franklin Street at Caribou Coffee, Franklin Street at Ham’s Restaurant, Franklin Street at Graham Street and Merritt Mill at CC Dickson Co.

The CPX and JFX routes will be detoured along McCauley Street, left on Pittsboro Street to continue the regular route. The bus stops at Sitterson Hall and Newman Center will not be served. Passengers may board the detoured buses at the State Employee’s Credit Union.

The routes may experience schedule delays as a result of the street closure. CHT will make every attempt to maintain schedules but is advising customers to expect delays and to allow extra travel time.

Other CHT routes traveling along South Columbia Street may experience schedule delays because of the lane closures. These possible schedule delays may affect the following routes: A, CL, CM, CPX, CW, D, G, J, JFX, N, NS, NU, T, U and the 420 (Triangle Transit). CHT will attempt to operate the normal printed schedule on these routes. While every attempt will be made to maintain schedules, CHT is advising customers to expect delays due to traffic congestion and to allow extra travel time.

**Chapel Hill Transit Bus Stops Temporarily Closed

The following bus stops are temporarily closed until further notice:

CM route - Hwy 54 at Westbrook Drive (Chambers Ridge Apartments); Passengers may board the bus before the driveway entrance to Westbrook Drive.

J route - Abbey Court on Jones Ferry Road; Passengers may board the bus before the driveway entrance to Abbey Court.

CW route - Carrboro Town Hall on Main Street; Passengers may board the bus at the temporary bus stop located on Main Street at Laurel Avenue.

 

Announcements

**Recent News - Riding Public Transit Saves Individuals $9,242 Annually

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) calculates that individuals who ride public transportation can save on average $9,242 annually based on the January 11, 2010 national average gas price and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.  Compared to last year at this time, the average cost per gallon of gas was $1.79 which is nearly $1 less than the current price of gas at $2.75 per gallon.  This increase in cost equates to an additional $600 in savings per year for transit commuters as compared to last year’s savings amount at this same time.

"The Transit Savings Report" released monthly by APTA calculates the average annual and monthly savings for public transit users.  The report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.  Transit riders can save on average $770 per month.  The savings amount is based on the cost of the national averages for parking and driving, as well as the January 11 national average gas price of $2.75 per gallon for self-serve regular gasoline as reported by AAA.

Taking public transportation provides a safe and affordable way for individuals and families to cut costs.  In addition, local public transit offers a travel option that has an immediate positive impact in reducing an individual's overall carbon footprint while helping reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $154.23, according to the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study.  Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,850.

For more information on this report, please the APTA website.

**Contact Us

Please e-mail lcone@townofchapelhill.org if you would like to receive periodic updates, information, and a newsletter from Go! Chapel Hill.  You will receive information about developments, initiatives, and competitions such as the Smart Commute Challenge.   

**Check out the Google pedometer

Google pedometer is a great way to keep track of how far you run or walk.  Google pedometer eliminates the need to drag along a pedometer or GPS system to determine your distance.  In addition to learning how many calories you burn during exercise, you can save your route and share it with others.  Check it out at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

**Perils for Pedestrian Features Go! Chapel Hill

Go! Chapel Hill was recently featured on "Perils for Pedestrians," a monthly television series promoting awareness of issues affecting people who walk and bicycle.  Learn more about Go! Chapel Hill by watching this episode, which features Chapel Hill near the beginning. 

Perils for Pedestrians Episode 100 Google Video