Research Triangle Park, N.C. – The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) announced today that it will suspend fares on TTA's Express service between Chapel Hill-Raleigh and Durham-Raleigh from Friday, September 2nd through September 9th.

In announcing the move, TTA General Manager John Claflin said, “Governor Easley has asked residents to conserve fuel. Travelers making longer trips on congested corridors, such as I-40, use more fuel than those traveling on less congested city streets. In the spirit of this effort, TTA will offer free trips on TTA’s Express Service through this period. We encourage new riders to try our service.” The regular fare for the TTA Express is $2.50 for a one-way trip. Fares on all other TTA services will be collected.

TTA’s Express service between Durham-Raleigh and Chapel Hill-Raleigh began on August 8. Each route has three departures in the morning and three departures in the afternoon. Travel times average 55 minutes to 70 minutes from the first to last stop.

One of those using TTA’s Express Service is Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson. Nelson works in Raleigh as the Director of Government Relations for the North Carolina Conservation Council.

"I hate that 45-minute drive to work in that I-40 traffic,” Nelson said. “It was great. I read the newspaper and finished a magazine article I had been trying to find time to read.” He added, "It cost me less than paying for gasoline for my car and I felt like I was doing something for energy conservation.”

TTA’s Chapel Hill to Raleigh morning express route serves:

  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 Street at Martin Street) (arrives at 6:55, 7:55, 8:55 AM)

TTA’s Raleigh to Chapel Hill morning route serves:
   Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington Street at Martin Street) (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)

TTA’s Durham to Raleigh morning route serves :
   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 Street at Martin Street) (arrives at 7:04, 8:04, 9:04 AM)

TTA’s Raleigh to Durham morning route serves:
   Downtown Raleigh (Wilmington Street at Martin Street) (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.

TTA has seen an increase in calls to its Customer Service center and Web site in the last month. Around 3,800 calls were received in August 2005 compared to 2,500 in July. “Hits” to the trip planner at www.rideTTA.org rose from 60,000 in July to 111,000 in August 2005. “We believe these increases are an indication that rising gas prices are prompting many to explore an alternate means of transportation and we are pleased to provide a number of options,” General Manager John Claflin said.

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 provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle and ShareTheRideNC.com, the statewide          rideshare matching service.

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 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.