The economy has the Chapel Hill Town Council looking more favorably at putting ads in and on town buses. The move could generate $200,000 next fiscal year and up to $450,000 in future years, according to a staff report.

The council rejected ads in 2001 and 2005, because a majority felt ads on buses could get tacky. But that was then. Chapel Hill Transit director Steve Spade says wrapping a single bus with an ad could generate $18,000 a year. 

Not so fast, said council member Laurin Easthom. Wraps cover the whole bus, even some windows, and while Spade says the town would likely wrap only a dozen or so of its 98 buses Easthom says that would be a mistake. Chapel Hill's distinctive blue buses are a trademark, telling everyone the buses in this Carolina college town are free.

"I'm sure there are some cool bus wraps," Easthom said, "but if you're really talking about destroying the blue buses, that's what that wrap does."        

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]

Three regional transit agencies proposed changes today to reduce duplication in their bus routes and provide more options for riders on the U.S. 15-501 corridor between Durham and Chapel Hill, and to launch direct bus service between the airport and downtown Raleigh.

The proposed changes, to take effect in August, include: ... [MORE]

Who knew that Hillsborough could pack so many people onto a little bus?

Triangle Transit's Route 420 weekday bus to Chapel Hill seats up to 25 riders, but sometimes there are more than 30 making the morning or afternoon rush-hour trip. The little bus operated by Orange Public Transportation isn’t equipped for strap-hangers, so the overflow crowd sprawls on the narrow floor. . . .