Wake BRT: New Bern Avenue

The Wake BRT: New Bern Avenue will connect downtown Raleigh with WakeMed and New Hope Road.

In November of 2016, Wake County voters approved a plan for focused investment in public transit which puts the implementation of the Wake County Transit Plan in motion. The plan calls for building approximately 20 miles of transit lanes along four (4) Bus Rapid Transit corridors within Wake County (Wake BRT).

Project Details

Type:: Transportation Improvements
Project Lead:: Roadway Design & Construction
Contractors:: HNTB

Contact

Sam Brewer, PE
Project Manager
919-749-2952

Comment Form

Het Patel
Transit Planning
919-996-5120

Lead Department:: Transportation

Participating Department:: Engineering Services

Service Unit:: Public Transportation

The planning phase began in 2012 with the New Bern Avenue Corridor Study. The study gave recommendations for improving the appearance of the corridor and strategies for revitalizing the area with economic development. The study also suggested ways to support pedestrian, bicycle and transit use along the corridor with a vision for Bus Rapid Transit.

In 2016, the Wake Transit Plan identified four (4) BRT corridors for implementation by 2027. The New Bern Avenue Corridor connecting from Downtown Raleigh to WakeMed/New Hope was one (1) of the corridors identified. The New Bern Avenue Corridor was evaluated further through the Wake Transit Plan Major Investment Study (MIS) which was completed in 2018.

In 2016, the Wake Transit Plan identified four BRT corridors for implementation by 2027. The New Bern Avenue Corridor connecting from Downtown Raleigh to WakeMed/New Hope was one of the corridors identified. The New Bern Avenue Corridor was evaluated further through the Wake Transit Plan Major Investment Study (MIS) which was completed in 2018.

In order to gather public input, two Design Open Houses were held.

The first Design Open House occurred on June 25, 2019 to present the benefits of BRT and show preliminary station locations and BRT design concepts. Based off comments and feedback received, a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) was created.

The second Design Open House was held on October 29, 2019 to present updated preliminary station locations and display updated BRT design concepts. A presentation was given during the Design Open House and a summary handout was available.

We are in the advanced design stage for the Wake BRT: New Bern Project.

Approximately 3.3 miles of the 5.1-mile corridor will use dedicated transit lanes between the GoRaleigh Station, in downtown Raleigh, and Sunnybrook Road.

BRT will share the general traffic lanes for the remainder of the corridor between Sunnybrook Road and New Hope Road.

What's Happening

Our design team is wrapping up the final designs and we started the right of way and easement acquisition phase of the project.

Project limits Map

This map outlines the project limits and shows the proposed BRT transit stops along the corridor.

New Bern Avenue Advanced Station Location Map

Next Steps

Finish the right of way and easement acquisition phase of project.
Hold a pre-construction meeting.
Start construction, fall 2022.

We have started the Right of Way and Easement Acquisition phase of the project. Survey crews are marking proposed easements, and the City's Real Estate Analysts are contacting people whose property may be impacted.

Our survey crews will place stakes with different color flags along the corridor to denote the different types of easements.

What Flag Colors Represent:

Red Flags = Proposed right of way
White Flags = Existing right of way
Green Flags = Permanent drainage easement needed (These areas may include installing drainage pipes, catch basins, drainage inlets, and drainage ditches.)
Orange Flags = Temporary construction easement needed (We will only utilize these easements during construction.)
Light Blue = Permanent electric utility easement
Purple Flags = Permanent slope easement
Yellow Flags = Permanent utility easement
Dark Blue Flags = Temporary driveway easement (We will only utilize these easements during construction.)
Pink Flags = Permanent sidewalk easement

Have Question?

For questions about real estate, contact Real Estate Analyst, Greg Pittman.

For questions about the project design, contact the Project Manager, Sam Brewer, PE

Next Steps

Hold a pre-construction meeting.
Start construction.

Schedule

Date	Activity
2018	Wake Transit Plan Major Investment Study
Spring 2019	0 - 30% Design Begins
Summer 2019	New Bern Avenue Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Selected
Winter 2019	Federal Small Starts Application
Spring 2020	30% Design Complete
Spring 2020	Final Design Begins
Winter 2022	Advanced Design Complete
Fall 2022	Right of Way & Easement Acquisition Complete
Fall 2022	Project Update & Open House
Winter 2023	Pre-Construction Meeting
Winter 2023	Construction Starts
Winter 2025	Construction Complete

Station Design

The renderings here show what the different style BRT stations will look like along the New Bern Avenue corridor.

This shows what the urban core BRT transit station will look like, the rending here show the one on Wilmington Street. — This images shows the urban core BRT station design. The rendering here is of the station that will be located on Wilmington Street.

What the BRT transit station will look like at Swain Street - This is the intermodal design — This is the intermodal station design on New Bern Avenue. This style station will be located at Swain Street.

Showing what the BRT station design that is located in an island will look like. This one is a rendering of the Raleigh Blvd intersection of New Bern Ave. — This rendering shows what the split island style BRT transit station will look like. The one in this rendering is at the intersection of New Bern Ave and Raleigh Blvd.

Rendering of the BRT station at Edenton Street and Swain Street — This rendering shows what the BRT Station at the intersection of Edenton and Swain will look like.

a rendering of what the BRT station will look like at Corporation Pkwy — This rendering shows what the BRT station at Corporation Pkwy will look like.

Project Update Videos

This is a listing of project update videos. you can watch these videos to stay up to date on the project's progress.