Raleigh's R-Line bus service could be on chopping block
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Photo: Courtesy of VisitRaleigh
After a couple years of subpar ridership, the clock may be ticking on the R-Line, Raleigh's downtown bus circulator.
Why it matters: The bus stops at Raleigh's train station and apartment towers, connecting the city's residents to state government offices, the convention center and hotspots for dining, drinking and shopping.
- But most Raleigh residents just don't seem to be interested.
By the numbers: About 3,700 riders took a trip on the R-Line in February, according to the most recent snapshot provided by GoRaleigh
- That's an increase from last year, but nowhere near its pre-pandemic peak.
- Back in 2019, the same month's ridership was around 10,500. That's a nearly 65% drop.
Zoom in: City transportation spokesperson Andrea Epstein says electric scooters and bikes, plus the ubiquity of Uber and Lyft, has changed things.
Catch up quick: The R-Line was first introduced nearly 20 years ago, as a free and easy way to navigate downtown.
- The pandemic emptied many of downtown Raleigh's office towers, and the route was eventually suspended due to low ridership in 2021, The News & Observer reported.
- A short time after the R-Line returned in 2024, the city resumed charging bus fare, and the R-Line wasn't exempted. It now costs $1.25 to ride (or $2.50 a day) and requires exact change or an app.
What's next: "The R-Line ridership is low, and the Raleigh Transit Authority are currently in conversations about 'revisioning' what (if any) downtown service is needed by bus beyond what is already provided by existing routes," Epstein said in an email.