Public Transportation in Raleigh: Raleigh, NC Public Transit Guide
December 05th, 2023
Public Transportation in Raleigh, NC
Are you living in or considering moving to Raleigh and wondering what the public transportation options are in this city? Keep reading to learn more about Raleigh public transit.
Raleigh, NC, is a city where driving is the most common mode of transportation. However, there are no train systems available like in larger cities. The good news is that getting around Raleigh is still reasonably easy. You can choose to drive, ride the bus, call an Uber, bike, or walk to get to your destination.
This area is growing rapidly, and the interstate highways and transportation systems make it easier to transport. With inflation rising 3.2% since last year, people worry about the price hikes. Thankfully, Raleigh is considered to be fairly affordable, especially when compared to other cities of its size.
Transportation is a thing that almost everyone uses. Luckily, commute times are lower than the national average. Nonetheless, you should utilize the ample public transportation options in Raleigh. Whether it is personal or public transit, it is an essential thing to have, especially if you live in a more extensive area like Raleigh. In this guide, we will cover some of the most popular public transportation options in Raleigh, as well as other data.
Here is what you need to know about public transportation in Raleigh, NC.
Chapters
1. GoRaleigh Bus Service
The Raleigh public transportation system, GoRaleigh, provides bus services throughout the city. There is a transit map to help you determine which route you need to use. GoRaleigh is free as of right now, until June 2024. Below are the costs of the fare typically.
- $1.25 for adults
- $0.60 for people with disabilities
- $0.65 for Medicare card users
Always free for the following:
- Ages 65 or older with a GoRaleigh ID card
- Ages 12 or younger without ID, unless taller than 60 inches
- Ages 13-18 with a YouthGoPass
GoRaleigh, formally Moore Square Transit Mall, has served the city of Raleigh's downtown transit hub since 1988 and has expanded considerably. This public transportation system serves local and regional buses and is accessible to all.
The GoRaleigh system operates 28 fixed buses throughout the city's municipal area and seven regional/express routes, serving roughly over 5 million passengers last year. Be prepared for June 2024; passes for this bus may be purchased online, and one-day passes may be purchased on the bus but CASH only.
Located at 214 S Bount St, Raleigh.
2. RLine
RLine is an eco-friendly approach to urban transportation. This is a free circulator service that connects you to restaurants, entertainment venues, museums, hotels, retail, and parking facilities in downtown Raleigh. The buses typically run every 15 minutes, which makes it a highly desirable approach to travel within the city. Every circulator loop takes about 30 minutes to complete and reach back to the stop.
There are about 20 different lines which go to different areas in the city with two buses. However, keep updated on each of these routes because some may be down due to construction and other things.
As of now, in December 2023, the services are down and temporarily suspended until specific metrics are met. Visit GoRaleigh's website for more information on this transit line. Below are the stops that Rline takes to see if this service will fit your needs.
| R1: State Capitol | R2: State Government | R3: Seaboard Station | R4: West Street | R5: Glenwood South at Tucker Street |
| R6: Glenwood South at North Street | R7: Glenwood South at Willard Street | R8: Morgan Street | R9: Municipal Complex | R10: Warehouse District at Hargett Street (after 6:30 PM) |
| R11: Warehouse District at Davie Street (after 6:30 PM) | R12: Amtrak | R13: Raleigh Convention Center | R14: Performing Arts Center | R15: City Center Deck |
| R16: Blount Street Deck | R17: City Market | R18: Hargett Street at Blount St. | R19: Hargett Street at Wilmington St | R20: New Bern Place |
3. Cardinal Bikeshare
Cardinal Bikeshare is a public, self-service bicycle rental system for short trips. There are about 330 bikes across 30 different stations. Almost 70% of the fleet is equipped with electric-assist motors that provide an extra boost when riding.
Stations are located...
- Downtown Raleigh
- Southeast Raleigh
- Along Hillsborough Street
- North Carolina Museum of Art
How to use the Cardinal Bikeshare...
- Join - you can become a member. Simply purchase a membership on the website, mobile app, or at the station kiosk.
- Unlock - Unlock a bike using the mobile app or taking your membership card on the handlebars.
- Ride - Consider wearing a helmet and keep your ride under the allotted time to avoid extra time fees.
- Return - Dock your bike at any station. Listen for the sound to confirm that it has been secured.
The Cardinal Bikeshare may not be everyone's top choice for public transit, but it is a popular thing for residents in the city to use for short-distance rides. Below is the pricing for this bike-share service.
| Annual Membership | $96.53 | 1-year access. Dock every hour to avoid overage fees. One bike per membership |
| 30 Day Pass | $32.18 | Access for one month. Dock every hour to avoid overage fees. One bike per phone |
| Pay as You Go | $2 per ride and per bike | Dock every hour to avoid overage fees. Up to 4 cycles per phone |
| 24 Hour Pass | $8.58 | Access for 24 hours. Dock every hour to avoid overage fees. One bike per phone |
4. GoTriangle
GoTriangle provides public transportation in a region that is experiencing rapid growth and demographic change. They operate regional bus and shuttle services, paratransit services, ride matching and vanpools, and other commuter resources and emergency ride-home programs.
GoTriangle aims to make public transportation accessible for all and improve the region's quality of life by connecting people and places through sales and reliable and easy-to-use travel choices. GoTriangle is suitable for your budget, stress, and time.
This bus service provides rides to the Research Triangle, traveling through Mebane, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapell Hill, Durham, Raleigh, and bordering Cary. This is a perfect service to use for those who are not located in the heart of Raleigh and still need transportation through and out.
You can pay for the bus with the exact fare, ticket, transfer receipt, or pass. The fares may differ for every trip, so make sure you know the cost of a ride. Visit Fares and Passes.
5. Wolfline
The Wolfline bus service is NC State University's bus service not only serving for the students but also the general public fare-free, with no need to show a student ID card. The buses are red, white, and black with the Wolfline logo letting on them. The bus-operated everyday classes are in session, which can be inconvenient at certain times, so check out the schedule.
The Wolfline buses serve all three campuses, three park-and-ride lots, official NC State housing, and privately owned apartment complexes located on city streets traveled by Wolfline buses on the way to or from these areas. These buses travel along designated routes and only stop at designated Wolfline stops, some of which are shared with Go Raleigh and Go Triangle.
If you are searching for FREE public transit, Wolfline bus service may fit your needs.
6. Raleigh-Durham International Airport
While everyday public transportation is essential, it is also important to know the transportation options RDU because some people do use flights as their form of traveling. Many companies are permitted to provide transportation services from RDU to other destinations.
There are personal transportation services, shared ride transportation services, and tour and charter services at RDU. The center of Raleigh is around 15 miles from the airport, so it is a relatively quick ride with many different options to choose from.
Getting from the airport to downtown by public transportation is one of the most inconvenient things, sadly. There is no direct bus. However, the GoTriangle bus departs from both Terminal 1, zones 2 and 3, and Terminal 2, zones 6 and 7. This bus, however, will not bring you down directly; you will have to take the RDU Connect bus and then take Route 100 to downtown.
On the other hand, you can also use taxis, UBERS, rental cars, and other services from RDU. There are many options for transportation. However, they may be more inconvenient.
7. Cost of Transportation
Public transportation is free in Raleigh until June 2024. According to Payscale, transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 5% lower than the national average. Taking into account the cost of gas, as well as public transit and car maintenance, the EPI estimates that a single person living in Raleigh will spend about $10,096 a year on transportation, but that number varies.
In Raleigh, 87% of commuters drive to work, which is more than nationwide. The average commute time in this city is about 23.7 minutes long but will vary. Raleigh is a mostly driveable city; however, some people do walk.
| Cost in Raleigh | National Cost | Difference | |
| Public Transportation | $0 | $1.52 | - |
| Gallon of Gas | $3.50 | $3.84 | -9.3% |
Sourced from Cost of Living in Raleigh, NC
FAQS
Does Raleigh have good public transportation?
Sadly, the bus services throughout Raleigh are not the best; however, they do get you where you need to go at many different times throughout the day. The RLine is one of the best free, public transit that will bring you all around the downtown area.
Can you get around Raleigh without a car?
The best and most popular way to get around Raleigh is by car. The city does offer buses, but driving a vehicle may be more convenient for traveling. There are many parking spots and garages to use as well throughout the city.
How walkable is downtown Raleigh?
Downtown Raleigh is the heart of the city and has a walk score of 94, so you can easily walk to almost everything you need. Many people who are in downtown tend to walk around rather than drive or take transit.
Public Transportation in Raleigh - The Bottom Line
Transportation is something that almost everyone uses, whether it is personal or public transit. It is an essential thing to have, especially if you live in a bigger area like Raleigh. Raleigh has many different public transit options for the residents that are all affordable and accessible for everyone.
Raleigh, NC, is a city where driving is the most common mode of transportation. However, unlike larger cities, there are no train systems available. The good news is that getting around Raleigh is still fairly easy. You can choose to drive, ride the bus, call an Uber, bike, or walk to get to your destination.
The area is growing rapidly, and the interstate highways and transportation systems make it easier to transport. Thankfully, Raleigh is considered to be fairly affordable, especially when compared to other cities of its size.
If you want to move to Raleigh or need help selling, contact us or visit our website. Our team at Raleigh Realty is here to help you with any home buying or selling needs.
Ryan Fitzgerald
Hi there! Nice to 'meet' you and thanks for visiting our Raleigh Real Estate Blog! My name is Ryan Fitzgerald, and I'm a REALTOR® in Raleigh-Durham, NC, the owner of Raleigh Realty. I work alongside some of the best Realtors in Raleigh. You can find more of my real estate content on Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and more. Realtor Magazine named me a top 30 under 30 Realtor in the country (it was a long time ago haha). Any way, that's enough about me. I'd love to learn more about you if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook and Instagram or connect with our team at Raleigh Realty. Looking forward to connecting!
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