GoRaleigh/GoWake Access Transit Facility

The City of Raleigh’s GoRaleigh Access program is currently based in a building from the 1970s, which was built on top of a landfill from the early 1900s. Over time, the building has become unsafe and too old to meet today’s needs. The space is also shared with Wake County’s GoWake Access program. Together, nearly 100 vehicles operate from this facility, which is well past its useful life.

A new facility is being planned to better serve our community. It will include about 17,700 square feet of office and operations space, plus 31,400 square feet for a modern maintenance garage. The garage will feature eight bays for vehicle work, storage for parts, and office space for maintenance staff. It will also include separate areas for cleaning and washing vehicles.

The new office space will support the operations team, provide ADA eligibility testing for the City’s paratransit program, and host call centers for both Raleigh and Wake County. These call centers schedule more than 2,000 daily trips for people with disabilities, older adults, and rural residents who rely on public transit in Raleigh and Wake County.

Project Details

Type:: Transportation Improvements
Project Lead:: Alexander Shapiro and Elizabeth Nooe
Contractors:: Stantec Architecture Inc.

In June 2025, the design phase had kicked off with Stantec. In July 2025, City staff and Stantec Architecture sat down with the end users of GoRaleigh and GoWake paratransit operations to kick off programming efforts. In August 2025, the same groups met with Stantec and undergone a Master Planning Charrette where a desired layout of all exterior areas and buildings were chosen.

Project Goals

Durable, Resilient & Sustainable

Reduce maintenance/utility costs; retains aesthetic over time; functional and multi-purpose; future-proofed to accommodate growth and change; LEED Silver Facility.

Barrier-Free, Welcoming, Safe & Secure

Inviting and desirable; go beyond complying w/ ADA accessibility; make it easy to visit for eligibility screenings, provide adequate cameras, gates, clearance and enforcement.

Strengthen Partnerships & Build Trust

Meet the needs of the community by engaging with end users and being transparent.

Create a “Model” Paratransit Facility

Signature facility as a new national paratransit standard.

Consolidate Operations and Improve Efficiency

Bring everyone under one roof: City/County, Call Center, Administrative, and Operations – to streamline processes and reduce operational costs; maximize and expand services.

Complete the Facility On-time & Within Budget

Utilize early cost estimating and phasing of future plans to ensure project scope, budget and schedule are align with constraints.

Employee-Focused

Find solutions that improve the employee experience and can increase retention.