WS Chronicle

Just six months into the closing of a section of Business 40 near downtown Winston-Salem, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) is sharing some of the significant benefits commuter services are having on the Triad community.

Since the project began in November, PART buses have seen an average of approximately 1,800 passenger trips per day, with Vanpools reporting an additional 950. Together, these commuters have helped reduce over 18 million miles in single occupancy vehicle travel thus far this fiscal year – a total that is only 2 million miles fewer than the entire fiscal year of 2018.

“Our goal is to provide safe and convenient transportation options that make traveling via a rideshare service during this project both easy and desirable,” PART Executive Director Scott Rhine said. “We are excited to see so many commuters taking advantage of our PART programs and services, and helping to improve our commuting conditions.”

Ridership is up 3.5% for March 2019 as compared to March 2018. Some individual routes have seen increases as high as 79%. The higher levels of public participation in these programs aren’t just improving commuting conditions, they’re improving our local environment.  PART services reduced carbon monoxide emissions in the Triad by 2.2 tons during the month of April alone, and have also helped reduce 46 tons of NOx this fiscal year. 

And though the Business 40 project may have been the reason several commuters started using PART, many say a positive rider experience is what keeps them coming back.

“PART is a very efficient way to travel throughout the Triad,” Alexcia Lane, a student at GTCC and frequent rider of Routes 1 and 2 said. “Not only is it easy and affordable, but it allows me to take advantage of my commute by affording me the time to check my email and play games on my phone. I can relax and actually enjoy a usually stressful task.”

Greg Southard, a Clemmons resident who takes Route 28 to and from work in downtown Winston-Salem each day, says that in addition to the safety and convenience commuting with PART provides, he also enjoys the camaraderie of his fellow passengers.

“Our route is like its own little community,” Southard said. “We have a small group of people who ride together daily and have built an open, friendly environment filled with courteous and genuine interactions. The commute to and from work has become a highlight of my day.” 

Since October, PART has been providing enhanced transportation options including increased bus routes, discounted Vanpool programs and rideshare matching services like ShareTheRideNC for commuters to and from areas impacted by the road closures and across the Triad. These programs are part of the organization’s efforts to reduce single occupancy vehicle travel in the project’s high Traffic Relief Zone (TRZ) with the hopes that fewer cars on the road will result in better commuting conditions.

To learn more about the additional efforts and services PART is providing, or to see if you are eligible for the discounted Employer Pass Program, visit www.partnc.org/biz40. 

Find out more about the highway closure by visiting the NCDOT Business 40 Website at www.business40nc.com.