Project Overview

The Wake BRT: Western Corridor will connect downtown Raleigh to downtown Cary. The Western corridor is approximately 12 miles. It is proposed to operate in both dedicated transit lanes and mixed traffic between GoRaleigh station in downtown Raleigh and downtown Cary.



In 2016, the Wake Transit Plan identified four BRT corridors for implementation. The Western Corridor connecting downtown Raleigh and downtown Cary was one of the corridors identified. The Western Corridor was further evaluated in the Wake Transit Plan Major Investment Study (MIS) completed in 2018.

Studies & Decisions

Planning Phase began in The Western Corridor in 2019 with the Western Boulevard Corridor Study and completed in Summer of 2022 and approved by Raleigh City Council June 7, 2022. The study analyzed the land use capacity and urban form of the corridor to develop a conceptual land use plan as well as recommended a locally preferred route for the BRT. View the Western Boulevard Corridor Study Final Report, and visit the project page to learn about the Corridor Study.

• The preliminary design phase (0 to 30 percent) for the Western Corridor BRT has been completed. The corridor is approximately 12 miles and will operate in both dedicated transit lanes and mixed traffic between GoRaleigh station in downtown Raleigh and downtown Cary.
• Final 30% designs are nearing completion, and public engagement will restart upon their completion.

Current Activity

• Continue coordination with Town of Cary, NC State University, and NCDOT about their overlapping projects along the corridor.
• Obtain public feedback on 30% designs, which include roadway design, traffic pattern and signal updates, stormwater engineering, and station locations.
• Continue coordination with Federal Transit Administration through the Capital Investment Grant process.
  
  • The Western Corridor Project was submitted to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program in Fall 2024. The project received a Medium-High rating - which shows a high likelihood of receiving federal funds in the future - when FTA published their Annual Funding Recommendations on November 13, 2025.
• Continue environmental documentation as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We anticipate completing this work in Summer 2027.

Once we have received feedback on the 30% designs, we will then continue toward 60% designs which prepares us to begin talking to property owners about acquiring the land needed to build the project.

The 60% designs will also be what we use to refine our construction cost estimate. Having that is necessary before we finalize a grant agreement with the FTA.

Phase details coming soon.