by Leo Suarez

Ongoing Moore Square Transit Station Study Reveals Future Plans

Buses at the Moore Square Transit Station.

Last week at a public information session, plans for Raleigh Union Station and the Downtown Bus Facilities Master Plan were shown off and discussed. While Union Station gets all the press, see the updated renderings (via N&O), plans for the Moore Square Transit Station are now unfolding. With less pizzazz, and less progress, compared to Union Station the question of how downtown will handle the hub of Raleigh’s future bus system is very important.

The problem revolves around one question. How will the rail networks serving Raleigh Union Station compliment a future expanded bus network, and vice versa? Our current Moore Square Transit Station, the central hub of the Capital Area Transit system, is nearing capacity. If it were located near Union Station, there’s still not enough room to incorporate all the future routes and riders.

What planners are trying to figure out now is how to use bus terminals at both Union Station and Moore Square so that they compliment each other effectively. During the meeting last week, I took some photos of the current thoughts on how the Moore Square Station may evolve over time.

Click on this image below to see a possible solution for the current, near future, and long-term traffic flow of Moore Square Station. Excuse the blurry cam.

Possible future plans for the Moore Square Transit Station.

The first image shows the current layout and bus flow through the station. Buses turn in to the station on Martin Street and depending on the route, they either leave on Blount or Hargett Streets.

As the system grows and Union Station is worked on, Moore Square will have to accommodate more buses and routes before Union Station can alleviate some pressure. The second image shows how that could work. The inner lane can be expanded and converted to two-way. After removing some planters and parking, there actually is room to make that expansion work. I had to go and see that for myself and sure enough…

Moore Square Transit Station

With another lane for buses, capacity is increased. At the same time, the station is pretty much maxed out.

The third image shows what the future of Moore Square Station could be once Union Station is up and running with bus routes circulating here and there. The one-way street and connection from the station to Blount can be removed, leaving only the two-way lane for buses.

There is still lots of work to do with planning routes, which stations they will serve, and how to effectively connect both Union Station and Moore Square Station. This just shows that Union Station could be one piece of a major transit network overhaul in Raleigh’s future.

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10 Comments

  1. I can’t wait to see a concrete rendering when they come up with one. The only issue I see with having most of the bus service moved to Union Station is the distance from Union Station to the Fayeteville st. area and surrounding blocks. It’s not outrageous or anything but it could discourage people from exploring the area while they wait for a transfer. Also people taking the TTA from the airport to a one of the hotels downtown will be forced to walk a considerable distance with their bags. Some sort of shuttle service akin to the R-Line would be ideal.

  2. The “max capacity” configuration only adds three more bus bays? (16 -> 19)? What is that yellow line down the middle in the “max capacity” and “future” maps? Without that, it seems like they could probably squeeze in about three more bays.

  4. are there still cosmetic renovations planned for the station? that place could use a facelift. i know moore square itself is on hold indefinitely for lack of funds, but if the park and the bus station got a bit of updating, it would really make the whole area a lot better.

  5. I read in the N & O today in The Triangle Section that the law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice are presently located in the Wells Fargo Tower downtown with app. 60 attorneys. They are looking for app. 50,000 square ft. either in Wells Fargo Tower , Charter Square , Edision , or John Kanes 18-story Tower in North Hills . Mr. Womble said that his decision would be made soon . I sure hope that he stays downtown . Dwight Nipper

  6. It seems that Nobody wants to talk about or advocate for the Working class poor, they live in Raleigh too you know. The City should consider Increase Bus service to Midnight.Why the need to wait for One million people to be in Raleigh,they’ll come soon enough, in the meantime focus should be on Improving Bus service and much needed Bus shelters throughout the city.Maps couldn’t hurt either.It would be nice to see that.

  7. ^agreed. Midnight or later. We’re a CITY we need to encourage people to stay up later :)

  8. Some of us already stay up that late and we can’t rely on buses because of it. Even Chapel Hill with its superb bus service isn’t much help on the days I leave the lab at midnight.

    Raleigh is a much bigger place. It should have an even more comprehensive system.

  9. Right, what we need is a bus system people CAN rely on. My brother takes the bus around town and is ALWAYS texting me that he’s gonna be running late for things because the bus is so behind. Hell, he’s had to wait over half an hour for a late bus before.

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