Chapel Hill Transit celebrates 50-year anniversary, embraces role of transit in development

On Aug. 1, 1974, Chapel Hill Community Transit service began operations with 22 used passenger buses. Then-mayor of Chapel Hill Howard Lee established the organization, reimagining public transit as more than just a means of transportation. This month, Chapel Hill Transit celebrated its 50th anniversary by honoring the vision Lee introduced half a century ago.

Emily Powell, the CHT Community Outreach Manager, said Lee understood the importance of transportation for community members.

“He really had an early vision of transportation; transit as a civil right,” Powell said. “And so with that vision in mind, we have really rooted our daily goals to make sure that people can move about the community fairly, equitably, accessibly and get where they need to go.”

Earlier this month, CHT hosted a pop-up birthday party at a popular bus stop on Franklin Street,  Powell said. She also said the organization plans to host celebrations on UNC’s campus.

“We just hope that it feels as much of a celebration as it does honoring our history,” Powell said. 

Chapel Hill Transit is the second largest transit agency in North Carolina, serving millions of riders per year. Since 2002, the agency has upheld a fare-free policy — not charging riders for using their buses.  

Powell said free ridership means community partners help pay for the system rather than riders, eliminating a barrier for transportation users. The system also opens up time and energy operationally to provide a better service, she said

“Whether it's a student, a visitor or an employee trying to get to work or somebody getting around town, there's no worry about how to get on, how to pay, if they can pay or having the right change,” Powell said.  

According to a 2022 article from Chapelboro, the transit system is made up of three partners: the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro and UNC. These entities collectively fund the transit system. 

Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Amy Ryan said because ridership increased from the fare-free system, federal funding increased as well. The fare-free program has preserved ridership even during periods of heightened car dependency, Chapel Hill Town Council member Melissa McCullough said. 

“The fact that our transit survived and thrived through that is really saying something because that didn’t happen everywhere,” McCullough said. 

Ryan also said concentrating on housing density in areas with transit lines or greenways is a key component of the Complete Community Strategy. She said this will help motivate people to use alternate, more efficient modes of transport, as well as meet population growth expectations without adding more traffic and pollution. 

McCullough said that many people lack independence or opportunity if they don’t own a car, especially students, making public transportation as important as ever. 

One of CHT’s upcoming projects is the North-South Bus Rapid Transit system, which is expected to break ground by 2027 with service starting in 2029.

The project will feature bus lanes designed to help move people north to south through the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Columbia Street corridor to reduce traffic and enhance reliability, Powell said. 

Looking forward, CHT is committed to sustainability. Powell said the transition to low-emission vehicles is underway, including a growing fleet of electric buses. 

“We're up to 11 electric buses right now, so we utilize those battery powered buses where we can, and that was a commitment that we had to sustainability, community health and the environment,” Powell said. 

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