Busway Street Section

Background

The Street Plan, a component of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, identifies the street type for many roads in Raleigh. The design requirements (sidewalks, parking, lane width, etc.) of each street type is detailed in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These two documents help Raleigh prepare for growth and build the right type of road for a specific location. With new investments in transit, including the Bus Rapid Transit system, it is important to establish a street type that is specific to roads where dedicated bus lanes are considered.

TC-4-2021 would amend the UDO to add standard street cross-sections that include bus lanes and associated space to operate bus rapid transit or other transit service separated from the general traffic. The cross-sections will include options with two, four, and six lanes of the general traffic. The cross-sections will otherwise be common with the two, four, and six-lane divided avenue standards in the existing UDO. These standards were modified by TC-3-2021 on October 5, 2021, to include separated bikeways.

The text change will be followed by a comprehensive plan amendment to apply the new standard cross-sections to most of the Eastern, Western, and Southern BRT corridors as determined through the Locally Preferred Alternatives of the transit planning process. Application of busway cross-sections to the planned Northern BRT corridor may follow a Major Investment Study (MIS) for that corridor.

Timeline

The text change and Comprehensive Plan amendment will be reviewed at the same time during Fall 2021.

How to Participate

The project involves a series of public meetings which the community may attend. The first community meetings will be held in November 2021. These meetings will also be an opportunity to discuss the Transit Overlay District (TOD) Mapping. Stay tuned for more details!