If you work for state government in downtown Raleigh, you had the option for the past few years to ride Capital Area Transit and Triangle Transit buses for free. All you had to do was show your GoPass and your government ID.

State government has ended this benefit as of Dec. 31, 2012. Now, you've got to pay for your bus rides like anybody else. (The change does not affect UNC and NCSU employees.)

I'm reporting on this today. If you're a state government worker who made use of the GoPass benefit, I'd like to hear from you. Please email me with your daytime contact info, or call me at 919-829-4527.

A new Wake County charter school could open in Garner and not, as originally planned, in Raleigh.

As noted in this article in Sunday's Garner-Cleveland Record, leaders of the Longleaf School of the Arts are talking with the Garner Town Council about opening in a building next to the Garner Performing Arts Center. Dave Dahl, a member of Longleaf's board of directors, said they're looking at several locations but called the Garner option "an amazing opportunity."

But Longleaf said in its initial application it would be located in Raleigh. When the State Board of Education gave initial approval in September, it put the school under a clock to identify where it would open before the March vote on final approval.

Donate three or more canned food items during Capital Area Transit's "Stuff the Bus" event tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 19), and you'll receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich for your kindness.

The bus will be parked in the 400 block of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, across the street from Chick-fil-A.

Donation hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free chicken sandwich coupons are valid from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow only -- and only at the downtown location.

The food donations will be given to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

If you are certified to drive a school bus, the Wake County school system could use you right now.

Wake Schools Superintendent Tony Tata said the "real limiting factor" to operating the 41 of the 52 previously sidelined buses is lack of permanent drivers. Wake is getting by with steps such as using substitute drivers and team leaders. Mechanics who are certified bus drivers are also being paid overtime to get behind the wheel while the district hires and trains more permanent drivers.

But Tata said that it's still tight ensuring there are enough drivers each day to handle the new and readjusted routes.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST

The buses are running today on slippery Triangle streets, but local transit operators say riders should expect lots of delays and detours (details below).

Check gotriangle.org online for updates on local transit service, and for links to real-time bus locator maps for CAT (www.RaleighRides.org), Chapel Hill Transit and NCSU's Wolfline. Or call 919-485-7433.

Raleigh's CAT says it is operating all routes, but its drivers are unable to reach ... [MORE]

Raleigh struck out on its bid for money to upgrade New Bern Avenue with sidewalks and super bus service, but Charlotte hit it big today with a $25 million federal grant to start building a downtown streetcar line.

The Federal Transit Administration announced $293 million in grants for urban circulators and downtown livability programs. Charlotte was among six cities that won the maximum $25 million for downtown circulators: ... [MORE]

Failed fountains will be reborn as planters when Raleigh's Capital Area Transit gives its Moore Square Transit Station a makeover.

The work, including an architectural and engineering assessment, will start this fall.

Better signs, shelters and lighting are promised. A new ticketing area. And, since the buses have been backing up onto Wilmington Street, they'll look for a way to add a third bus lane.

Capital Area Transit says the free R-Line bus, a downtown Raleigh circulator that began making the rounds in February, is averaging 535 riders each weekday and 719 riders on Saturday.

The quiet Sunday count of 219 brings down the daily average to 519.

Two electric-hybrid buses make the downtown loop with stops every 10 to 12 minutes.  The bus starts at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday, running until 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 2:15 a.m. Thursday night through Saturday night.  Sunday hours: 1-8 p.m.

It serves downtown workers, residents, visitors, convention-goers, and patrons of restaurants and other downtown businesses.  The evening route is expanded to include the City Market and Warehouse District areas. 

Route maps and more info are available online.  

View Zebulon/Wendell-Raleigh Express (ZWX) in a larger map x

The long-awaited rush-hour express bus between Raleigh and the eastern Wake towns of Wendell and Zebulon will start rolling Monday, Oct. 26.

Using Capital Area Transit buses, the Zebulon/Wendell-Raleigh Express primarily will serve commuters who work in downtown Raleigh and East Raleigh, running weekdays 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.

Morning buses leave a Zebulon park-and-ride lot at 5:55, 6:55 and 7:55 a.m., to arrive an hour later at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.

Along the way they stop at a Wendell park-and-ride lot, in East Raleigh near WakeMed and Wake County Human Services, and at four state government complex stops. There are three afternoon buses making the reverse trip, leaving Moore Square at 4:10, 5:10 and 6:10 p.m.

The eastern Wake park-and-ride locations are ... [MORE]

Ray LaHood, the US transportation secretary, announced  approval today of more federal stimulus funds for transit improvements in the Triangle:

$4 million for Raleigh to help start building a bus operations and maintenance center for Capital Area Transit, and

$900,000 for Triangle Transit to buy a van and three 40-foot buses.

Raleigh and Triangle Transit were among the recipients of additional stimulus grants announced in July.