nsbrt-funded

Yesterday (January 15) the  Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded an additional $24.4 million dollars in Capital Investment Grants to Chapel Hill Transit’s North-South Bus Rapid Transit Project along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Chapel Hill.

What does that mean?  

This money is unallocated federal dollars from fiscal years 22 and 23, so it reduces the amount Chapel Hill Transit will ask for in fiscal year 25. And having 30mm dollars in hand when applying for additional money puts Chapel Hill Transit in a better position.

In a statement, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-4) said “I am thrilled to see an additional $24.4 million being invested by the Federal Transit Authority to implement bus rapid transit in Chapel Hill. This award will help fund an accessible and sustainable bus system that will connect residents and visitors to job opportunities, schools, healthcare facilities, family, and more.”

As we reported last March, the Chapel Hill North-South BRT project was recommended for over $138.3 million in the FY25 Capital Investments Grant Annual Report and had previously received over $8 million in FY22 CIG funding. This new award will increase the total CIG funds allocated for this project to over $32 million.

Chapel Hill has been planning this route for almost two decades. When completed, the NSBRT will change how we get around Chapel Hill, and will allow an additional five to ten thousand people to get to school, work, and shopping without stepping in a car.

“We are excited to receive this grant award to bring faster, more reliable, and even easier-to-use service for our customers in this corridor, while also providing much-need cycling and pedestrian improvements,” said Chapel Hill Transit Director Brian Litchfield.

John Rees lives in Chapel Hill. He was, until very recently, a member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission and former chair. He serves on the board of the Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill, and is also...