NCDOT Awards $3 Million for Rocky Mount–Raleigh Commuter Bus Service

A new transportation connection between Rocky Mount and Raleigh is moving closer to reality after the North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded $3 million to launch a commuter bus service between the two cities.

The project cleared another major hurdle when the Rocky Mount City Council approved the matching funds needed to secure the grant. The initial service is expected to provide weekday transportation between Rocky Mount and Raleigh during peak commuting hours.

The idea has been years in the making. Local leaders began discussing the need for expanded workforce transportation nearly five years ago as employers increasingly looked beyond their immediate communities to find qualified workers.

“Companies today are recruiting from a much larger geographic area,” Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson said. “If we want to compete for new investment and help the businesses already here grow, we must think differently about how people get to work.”

The effort brought together the Mayor’s Office, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, Carolinas Gateway Partnership and Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, along with support from area employers, educational institutions, elected officials and the City of Rocky Mount.

While the first route will connect Rocky Mount and Raleigh, local leaders see the project as more than a new bus route. The goal is to strengthen the region’s workforce by making it easier for people to reach employment opportunities while giving businesses access to a larger pool of potential employees.

“We have employers who need workers today, and we have people who want good jobs but may not have reliable transportation to get there,” Roberson said. “This initiative helps address both sides of that equation.”

Major employers including Pfizer, Cummins, Sara Lee and Kaba have expressed support for the initiative. The project also comes as the region continues to see industrial, logistics and commercial growth supported by assets such as the CSX Carolina Connector intermodal terminal, Kingsboro Business Park and Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport.

The Rocky Mount–Raleigh route could eventually serve as the foundation for a larger regional transportation network. Future routes could potentially connect Wilson, Greenville, Roanoke Rapids, Elizabeth City and other communities to Rocky Mount, positioning the city as a transportation hub between Eastern North Carolina and the Triangle.

The next step will be finding a qualified vendor to implement the project. Transportation consultants and stakeholders will also work to determine the route, schedule, service model and other operational details.

The $3 million NCDOT award will provide startup funding for vehicles, operations and marketing as the project moves toward implementation.

“This is about preparing Rocky Mount for the future,” Roberson said. “Our economic growth cannot be measured only by the number of companies we attract, or the number of jobs created. We also have to make sure people can connect to those opportunities.”