WS Chronicle

Staff Report

Winston-Salem Chronicle

In a move to modernize how residents move through the Twin City, the Winston-Salem City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a sweeping transformation of the Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WISTA) route network.

The approved plan promises to trade underperforming, infrequent routes for a high-frequency system designed to get riders to their destinations faster, while introducing “microtransit” zones to ensure no neighborhood is left behind.

A Focus on Frequency

For years, the hallmark of Winston-Salem’s bus system has been the “hourly haul,” with 70% of routes running just once per hour. Transportation Director Jeff Fansler presented a vision to flip that script.

“We’re going to terminate some underperforming routes and add those buses to our higher-performing routes,” Fansler told the Council. Under the new strategy, nearly 70% of city buses will arrive every 30 minutes, with some high-traffic lines seeing a bus as often as every 20 minutes.

The update also marks a departure from the traditional “hub-and-spoke” model that required almost every rider to travel through the downtown Clark Campbell Transportation Center. Two new “cross-town” routes—the WISTA X North and WISTA X South—will allow residents to bypass downtown entirely, connecting neighborhoods directly to employment hubs.

Bridging the Gap with Microtransit

The most debated aspect of the overhaul was how to protect residents in areas where fixed-route service is being scaled back. The solution: Microtransit.

Similar to a ride-share service like Uber or Lyft but operated by the city, these on-demand zones will launch in the Northwest and Southeast sections of the city. The Southeast zone was a late addition to the plan, added after passionate feedback from community members who feared the loss of traditional bus lines.

To fund the expansion, the city has set its sights on a $6 million federal grant to launch a three-year pilot program. However, Fansler was transparent about the long-term costs, noting that the Council will eventually need to find local funding to keep the vans running once the grant expires.

High-Tech Upgrades and New Wheels

The physical and digital experience of riding the bus is also getting a facelift. City Manager Pat Pate announced the April 13 launch of UMO, a new fare payment system. The app-based platform will allow riders to pay with their smartphones or reloadable smart cards, moving the city away from a cash-heavy system.

Additionally, a fresh fleet of buses is expected to arrive this May, courtesy of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Roadmap Ahead

Riders should mark their calendars for two major transition dates:

• August 2026: The new fixed-route network and increased frequencies go live.

• January 2027: The Microtransit pilot zones officially begin service.

Council Member Andrew Bowen expressed the general sentiment of the dais, noting he was “ecstatic” to see the inclusion of the Southeast microtransit zone.

As the city prepares for an August rollout, WISTA officials confirmed that marketing materials and signage will be provided in both English and Spanish, with specialized outreach for visually impaired riders to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible for all Winston-Salem residents.