In 2023, more than 7 billion trips were taken on America’s public transit systems, in towns, cities, and rural areas across the country. Demand for transit is growing, as the cost of car ownership increases and fewer young people express interest in driving. Moreover, as America’s population ages, an increasing number of people will lose the desire or ability to drive. Transit provides an affordable option that allows everyone—including older adults, people with disabilities, youth, and people without cars—to continue participating in the economic and social life of their community.
To meet this demand, transit leaders are finding innovative ways to provide service. Too often, however, these agencies must make difficult trade-offs, shifting and even cutting services as resources are insufficient.
Small Cities, Big Moves focuses on transit in small cities—places with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, of which there are over 300 in the United States. Transit serves an essential role in these communities, yet they are rarely studied.
Rocky Mount, North Carolina is the case study feature of this week’s quick takes—read on!
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is the hub of the urbanized area in Edgecombe and Nash counties, with a population of 63,279. Historically, Rocky Mount’s economy relied on agriculture and textile manufacturing, but in recent years, it has expanded to include pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, with Pfizer as the leading employer. Rocky Mount serves as a resource hub for many rural communities in the northeastern part of the state, which makes its public transit system, Tar River Transit, all the more important.
Todd Gardner, the City of Rocky Mount’s transit manager, says he “wants public transportation to be accessible to everyone who needs it,” which is reflected in the variety of transportation services Tar River Transit offers Rocky Mount and its surrounding areas. The services offered include these:
Fixed-Route Bus Service: Operating within Rocky Mount, Tar River Transit provides 10 routes covering key areas, including schools, shopping centers, health care facilities, and residential areas. Services run Monday through Friday from 6:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., with no service on Sundays.
Paratransit Services: The Dial-A-Ride Transportation Service (DARTS) offers curb-to-curb transportation for individuals with disabilities who cannot access fixed-route services.
Rural General Public Program: This service provides transportation for residents of Nash and Edgecombe counties, connecting them to destinations within Rocky Mount.
Night Shuttle: Operating from 6 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, the Night Shuttle caters to second-shift workers and students, serving destinations within Rocky Mount and both Nash and Edgecombe Community Colleges.
These services have proven to be essential, especially as most people who use Tar River Transit don’t have other ways to get to important destinations like work and medical care. Because of this need, Tar River Transit maintained full service during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering free fares to support the community. Larry Herring, a regular Tar River Transit rider who is blind, relies on the service to get to the gym, his medical appointments, and other errands. Herring would like more service hours seven days a week and stressed the importance of Tar River Transit service for him personally. Having access to public transit “means I don’t have to depend on anyone else. It gives me my independence. I set up my own schedule and rides in advance to get me to the places I need to go,” Herring said.
While state funding has remained steady over time and there was an increase in federal funding after passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, Rocky Mount still faces challenges with limited resources for infrastructure improvements and new vehicles, as most of its funding goes toward operating its existing fleet. Like other transit agencies of this size, Tar River Transit is considering opportunities to modernize the system and increase efficiencies by exploring microtransit and electronic fare systems.
In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize Rocky Mount’s downtown area, with an emphasis on economic development and housing. Several routes serve the downtown area, but new development offers opportunities to serve more residents. Today, resources are limited, but Gardner said, “If I had more resources, I’d definitely be thinking about more service.”