Research Triangle Park, N.C.  Research Triangle Park, N.C. TTA will add new regional service between Raleigh/Durham and Raleigh/Chapel Hill.

In announcing the service, General Manager John Claflin said, “The TTA Express concept will provide a one-seat ride for commuters. This service will expand the number of destinations that can be reached using transit during peak hours by traveling long distances at higher speeds. TTA Express will operate during rush hour in addition to our existing TTA bus services.”

To see the TTA Express schedule, click here.

Beginning Monday, August 8, TTA Express will operate between Durham-Raleigh and Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill-Raleigh and Raleigh-Chapel Hill. Each route will have three departures in the morning and three departures in the afternoon. Travel times will be between 55 minutes to 70 minutes from the first to last stop.

The Chapel Hill to Raleigh morning route will be:
   * Downtown Chapel Hill (Franklin @ Columbia) (leaves at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 AM)
   * Eubanks Road Park & Ride (leaves at 6:08, 7:08, 8:08 AM)
   * Hillsborough Street at NCSU Bell Tower (leaves at 6:45, 7:45, 8:45 AM)
   * Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington St. at Martin St.) (arrives at 6:55, 7:55, 8:55 AM)

The Raleigh to Chapel Hill morning route will be:
   * Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington St. at Martin St.) (leaves at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 AM)
   * Hillsborough Street at Gardner Street/NCSU (leaves at 6:09, 7:09, 8:09 AM)
   * Trinity Road at State Fairgrounds Park & Ride (leaves at 6:16, 7:16, 8:16 AM)
   * South Road at UNC Student Union (leaves at 6:47, 7:47, 8:47 AM)
   * Downtown Chapel Hill (Franklin @ Columbia) (arrives at 6:55, 7:55, 8:55 AM)

The Durham to Raleigh morning route will be:
   * Downtown Durham (DATA Terminal on Morgan St.) (leaves at 6:07, 7:07, 8:07 AM)
   * American Tobacco and Pettigrew Street parking deck (leaves at 6:10, 7:10, 8:10 AM)
   * Hillsborough Street at NCSU Bell Tower (leaves at 6:48, 7:48, 8:48 AM)
   * Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington St. at Martin St.) (arrives at 7:04, 8:04, 9:04 AM)

The Raleigh to Durham morning route will be:
   * Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington St. at Martin St.) (leaves at 6:07, 7:07, 8:07 AM)
   * Hillsborough Street at NCSU Bell Tower (leaves at 6:16, 7:16, 8:16 AM)
   * Trinity Road at State Fairgrounds Park & Ride (leaves at 6:22, 7:22, 8:22 AM)
   * Lawson Street at NCCU Pearson Cafeteria (leaves at 6:49, 7:49, 8:49 AM)
   * Downtown Durham (DATA Terminal on Morgan St.) (arrives at 6:53, 7:53, 8:53 AM)

TTA’s “Express” service in the afternoon will begin at 4:30 PM for Chapel Hill-Raleigh and Raleigh-Chapel Hill service and at 4:15 PM for Durham-Raleigh and Raleigh-Durham service. The complete schedule is available at TTA’s Web site, www.rideTTA.org.

In addition to TTA Express, some current regional bus routes will be adjusted. A full schedule of the changes can be found by clicking here.

TTA Director of Commuter Resources John Tallmadge says the changes are a response to rider requests. “In the past few years, TTA has received a steady stream of requests for more direct services connecting Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill that do not stop for connections at the TTA Transfer Center in RTP. A 2003 study of potential park-and-ride services in the region identified several destinations in the region that would support park-and-ride services.”

Fares for TTA Express will be $2.50 for a one-way trip. TTA will begin selling discounted day passes and 30-day passes that are valid for use on the express routes, as well as all other TTA routes. 

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.

TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.