New Bern Avenue BRT
New Bern Avenue BRT is a bus rapid transit corridor under construction along New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. The corridor extends from the GoRaleigh Station in downtown Raleigh to New Hope Road and is the first of four BRT corridors advanced by the City of Raleigh under the Wake County Transit Plan.
The project includes dedicated transit lanes on portions of the corridor, enhanced BRT stations, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, traffic signal priority, and associated utility and streetscape work.
Background
editIn November 2016, 52% of Wake County voters approved a one‑half‑cent local sales tax dedicated to transit investments.[1] The tax funds the Wake County Transit Plan, which in 2016 identified four potential BRT corridors within Raleigh - including the New Bern Avenue route.[2]
On September 4, 2018, the Raleigh City Council voted to become the "project sponsor" of the four BRT projects identified in the Wake County Transit Plan, taking over the lead design, planning, and community engagement functions originally handled by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).[3]
Initial design
editCouncil authorized with the consulting firm WSP on February 19, 2019 for preliminary designs of the route (sometimes referred to as 30% Design), a National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Study, and a transit-oriented development framework to submit to the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) later that year.[4] On April 16, staff presented a more formal $3.8 million scope of services with WSP to include a public engagement plan.[5]
On May 17, 2020, staff presented an updated design to Council that broke the route into three segments. Council also authorized the planning work to be combined with ongoing pedestrian improvements being developed for New Berne Ave.[6]
- Segment 1 - Downtown to Tarboro Street
- Segment 2 - Tarboro St to Sunnybrook Dr
- Segment 3 - Sunnybrook Dr to New Hope Rd
Council awarded a $7.7 million contract to the consulting firm HNTB on June 2, 2020, to complete final designs of the route.[7]
Incorporation of transit-oriented development
editIn July 2020, building off the community engagement work lead by WSP, the City published Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Guidebook, which provided policy and design guidance on how to ensure the benefits of transit and related development were felt equally across residents of all income levels. The guidebook noted that New Bern had the highest share of black residents relative to the other BRT corridors.[8]
On February 2, 2021, the City signed an MOU with the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to use part of their right-of-way on New Berne Avenue for the BRT route.[9]
During that meeting, council also authorized a $750,000 contract with Stantec, Inc. for community engagement and planning services for the areas surrounding the proposed bus station stops. The funding was paid for with a $600,000 grant from the FTA and $150,000 in matching funds from the city.[10]
Final designs were shared with council June 15, 2021.[11] Engineering reports indicated that the full cost of construction would be $76.2 million with an additional $6.1 in needed water and sewer investments.[12]
"The total budget for the New Bern Ave BRT project is $72.5 million and includes design, construction, right-of-way, electrical relocation and permitting costs. Included in the construction budget of this project are the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funds of $35 million. The current total estimated cost for the project is $76.5 million (Still Finalizing the Advance Design Construction Cost Estimate). Separately, Raleigh Water’s water and sewer improvements projected to be $6.1 million."
At the same meeting, Council adopted Resolution 267, authorizing the use of eminent domain if negotiations with property owners failed. In total, 153 properties along the corridor were identified as potentially impacted.[13][14]
References
edit- ↑ "One-Half Percent Local Sales and Use Tax" (link). NC State Board of Elections. (November 8, 2016). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Wake County voters approve tax hike for transit" (link). The News & Observer. (November 8, 2016). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Council Minutes." (September 4, 2018). (link). Wake County Transit Plan - Bus Rapid Transit - Designation of Raleigh as Project Sponsor - Approved Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Council Minutes." (February 19, 2019). (link). Bus Rapid Transit - Project Development Consultant Team Selection Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Bus Rapid Transit Project Development and Planning Update" (link). City of Raleigh. (April 16, 2019). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Council Minutes." (March 17, 2020). (link). Bus Rapid Transit: New Bern Avenue 30% Design Review and Capital Project Consolidation Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Council Minutes." (June 2, 2020). (link). Wake BRT System Standards and Wake BRT New Bern Avenue Final Design Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Guidebook" (link). City of Raleigh. (July 2020). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "City of Raleigh – North Carolina Department of Transportation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Terms Summary for New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit" (link). City of Raleigh. (February 1. 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "New Bern Station Area Planning Pending Public Review Contract and Project Approach" (link). City of Raleigh. (February 2, 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System Standards Update" (link). City of Raleigh. (June 15, 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): New Bern Corridor Project Roadway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Improvements along New Bern Avenue from Downtown Raleigh to New Hope Road." (link). HNTB. (June 1, 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): New Bern Avenue Advance Design Presentation" (link). City of Raleigh. (June 15, 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Exhibit A Wake BRT - New Bern Ave. Corridor Properties Listing" (link). City of Raleigh. (June 15, 2021). Accessed February 2, 2026.