GoRaleigh's R-Line to be suspended as ridership declines; city to study options

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The final day to ride GoRaleigh's R-Line downtown circulator before its temporary suspension is Saturday, with service set to pause beginning Sunday.

The Raleigh Transit Authority approved the change earlier this year following years of declining ridership. Transit officials said the R-Line, which launched in 2009, originally served an important role for people traveling around downtown Raleigh.

"But since then we've got Uber, we've got Lyft, we've got scooters, we've got bikes. And it's just, you know, the ridership has continued to decline over the years. So we just decided to suspend it," transportation officials said.

Transportation Manager David Walker said the city will study whether downtown Raleigh still needs a circulator route or whether a different type of service would better meet transportation needs in the future.

"The study will determine what that is. You know, it may be that there's nothing needed, you know, at the peak of its service, it was doing about 30,000 trips a month, and we're doing about 30,000 trips a month on scooters and bikes today in the downtown area. So it's kind of gotten, you know, the ridership that it had. It's been replaced with other micromobility options," Walker said.

During the suspension, officials said riders can use one of 10 other high-frequency bus routes that travel through many of the same areas served by the R-Line.

Walker said transportation planners regularly evaluate service needs as Raleigh continues to grow.

"We just continue to to study our system and our service, and we look at the different demographics and the different, transit propensities, that, that are out there and where they are and kind of how things are moving throughout the, the city, in the county and try to make sure that we're, we're still targeting the right, right places for the, where the needs are," Walker said.

GoRaleigh said the suspension is temporary while the study is completed.

Residents who want to provide feedback can attend next week's Raleigh Transit Authority meeting or submit comments to GoRaleigh before leaders make a long-term decision about the service.

Options after R-Line paused

GoRaleigh encourages riders to use its high-frequency network of bus routes, many of which run every 15 minutes. Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15, 19 and 21 all serve downtown, covering not only the former R-Line areas but extending throughout the city center.

For those looking for flexible or active options, Raleigh's scooter and bikeshare programs continue to be widely available.

Walking remains another easy option. Downtown Raleigh spans just over a mile from north to south and is even shorter east to west, making it a manageable and accessible area for pedestrians.