Durham County is developing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Vision Plan to examine corridor improvements and service investments for a comprehensive network of high-capacity transit services across Durham County. The Vision Plan will seek to enhance mobility and connectivity for residents and visitors across Durham County over the next 30 years using the dedicated sales tax for public transportation in Durham County. The Durham County Transportation Department will seek community input throughout the process to ensure the Vision Plan reflects local priorities.

The Vision Plan will identify and prioritize corridors for BRT-level service. BRT is a high-quality, bus-based transit service that provides safe, reliable, and frequent transportation. BRT services can feature high-frequency service, dedicated bus lanes, enhanced passenger amenities, and advanced traffic prioritization technology. The Durham BRT Vision Plan will assess strategies for BRT implementation. The plan will also assess where improvements, such as dedicated transit lanes, transit signal prioritization, and stop placement could provide substantial benefits.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality, bus-based transit service that is safe, reliable, and frequent.

BRT typically includes:

• High Frequency Service with Fewer Stops
• Enhanced Vehicle and Station Passenger Amenities
• Traffic Prioritization Technology
• Some amount of dedicated bus lanes

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions and answers on this page reflect common themes raised by community members during Phase I of public engagement for the Durham County BRT Vision Plan, conducted between October 7th and December 1st, 2025.

1. How does the Durham County BRT Vision plan relate to the Central Durham BRT project?

The Durham BRT Vision Plan is being developed in coordination with the City of Durham’s Central Durham BRT, a 5-mile corridor already identified for BRT improvements. The BRT corridor will operate between Duke/VA Medical Center to Wellons Village via Durham Station. The Durham BRT Vision Plan will identify and prioritize additional corridors for BRT investment over the next 30 years. For more information about the Central Durham BRT, please visit: https://www.durhamnc.gov/5395/Central-Durham-Bus-Rapid-Transit-Project.

2. How will the BRT Vision Plan approach the use of dedicated bus lanes in Durham County?

Dedicated bus-only lanes are one strategy to make transit faster and more reliable. For example, the Vision Plan is evaluating corridors where traffic congestion currently slows buses down and assessing how much time dedicated bus lanes could potentially save riders.

While dedicated lanes are a great option, they’re just one of several features that can make BRT efficient and attractive to riders. The Vision Plan will identify where dedicated lanes may be most feasible to implement and pair them with other improvements, like enhanced stations, frequent service, and traffic signal priority to create a high-quality experience for riders.

3. Will BRT improvements be introduced in phases so riders can experience benefits sooner?

Yes! The Vision Plan will identify potential phased implementation of BRT treatments for certain corridors so riders can experience improvements and upgrades before a full BRT network is complete. The Plan will also build on existing efforts, like the 2023 Durham County Transit Plan’s recommendation for all-day 15-minute service along select corridors and the Better Bus Project, which has identified opportunities for bus stop improvements, access upgrades, and stop consolidation at key locations.

The Vision Plan will prioritize a phased approach that will help deliver early transit enhancements as the BRT system takes shape.

4. How will the BRT Vision Plan align with future land use decisions to create vibrant, transit-friendly communities?

The Vision Plan is assessing planned future land use to identify corridors best suited for higher-frequency, high-capacity transit to help align transit investments with areas expected to grow and change over the next 30 years. The following plans were reviewed:

• 2023 Durham Comprehensive Plan
• Shaping Our Future: A Transportation and Land Use Initiative (Chapel Hill)
• 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update (Raleigh)
• Morrisville Land Use Plan 2021
• Imagine Cary Comprehensive Plan
  • Part 1
  • Part 2

5. How will the Durham County BRT Vision align with other regional high-frequency transit planning efforts?

The Vision Plan is designed to complement regional transit efforts by assessing potential connections to Chapel Hill and Raleigh where BRT systems are already in planning or construction, creating a more useful network for riders across the Triangle. For more details on regional projects, visit the Chapel Hill and Raleigh BRT project websites.

6. What future opportunities will the public have to share feedback and help shape the BRT Vision Plan?

Phase two of public engagement will begin in the Spring of 2026 with several ways to participate, including an online survey, public meetings, and pop-up informational sessions at major transit centers and bus stops. Phase two will focus on sharing technical findings, and BRT corridor evaluation results, and gathering input on corridor prioritization to help finalize the Vision Plan and implementation strategies. Meeting materials and translations will be available in the document library on our website. Follow our social media channels for updates and announcements.