GoTriangle to run ZWX hourly on weekdays, add Wendell Falls and Zebulon stops starting Nov. 9
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Summary
GoTriangle will assume operation of the ZWX route and expand it to hourly weekday service from about 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., add two stops in Wendell Falls and extend service to Downtown Zebulon. The change is part of Wake Transit Plan implementation; GoTriangle and town staff said schedules are posted online and outreach continues.
GoTriangle will begin direct operation of the ZWX route and expand it to hourly weekday service between about 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., with operation slated to begin the week of Nov. 9, a GoTriangle official told the Wendell Town Council.
Chris Clark, GoTriangle’s transit service scheduler, said the change will add two stops in Wendell Falls at Taylor and Martin Pond and maintain the existing Fourth Street Wendell Park & Ride shelter. “GoTriangle will be assuming operation of the service starting November 9 or technically November 10 since it runs Monday through Friday,” Clark said. He told the council the route also will be extended into Downtown Zebulon to serve the Zebulon Walmart and will make connections at the Raleigh Union Station bus facility.
The expansion is being implemented as part of the Wake Transit Plan, Clark and other GoTriangle staff said. Clark said the ZWX will no longer directly serve the GoRaleigh Station platform but will stop on nearby Edenton Street and Morgan Street to maintain connections into Raleigh. The extended service is intended to link eastern Wake County residents to regional hubs, including the Raleigh Union Station bus facility, where riders can connect to other regional routes and Amtrak.
Clark described fare and access options: riders can pay with the UMO app or exact change; youth passes are available for ages 13–18 and seniors 65 and older qualify for free senior passes. He also noted GoTriangle’s Transit Assistance Program (TAP) and employer pass options, and said any employer can set up a pass program with GoTriangle. “We have a trip planner… the GoTriangle website at gotriangle.org will also provide some information, or they can be able to call the call center at (919) 485-7433,” Clark said.
Council members and residents asked technical questions about stop placement and routing. Clark acknowledged some concerns in Wendell Falls about stop locations and said stop placement remains fluid as staff monitor ridership and feedback. He also confirmed there is no immediate plan to operate the expanded ZWX on weekends, though weekend service could be added if demand supports it.
GoTriangle staff said they have conducted two phases of public engagement in the area — an earlier outreach window and a follow-up phase — and that the agency will continue to solicit feedback. The updated schedules for the ZWX and related routes are posted at gotriangle.org/service-changes.
The changes aim to increase frequency and improve regional connections for residents of Wendell, Wendell Falls and nearby communities while linking local microtransit (GoWake SmartRide Northeast) with fixed-route service.
