Big changes could be coming to Raleigh 'R Line'

Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Changes possible for R Line
A Raleigh R Line bus

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Two buses are riding a route in downtown Raleigh to pick up and drop off people for free.

It's the "R Line" bus service that many people have used to avoid parking problems and road closures for big events.

It stops every 15 minutes and can be tracked from your phone.

It was created to encourage people to come downtown. With so many new businesses and revitalized neighborhoods, some people are saying the route needs to change.

"It's kind of disappointing, we would love to have R Line come down this way," said Tonya Andrews, owner of Yellow Dog Bread Company in the Person Street Plaza.

Downtown has changed a lot since the R Line was created in 2009 and Raleigh's Transit Chief David Eatman said the R Line needs to roll with the changes.

"I don't think the route will look like it does now in the next year or so," he said.

It may not stay free either.

The city is studying how many people use the R Line and when and where they want to go.

Along with Person Street Plaza, Cameron Village, Shaw University, and Saint Augustine's University are interested in having the line as well.

Eatman said they could soon see better bus service to those areas, but it may not be the exact R Line service.

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