Featured Projects - Nelson\Nygaard

The City of Wilmington and the surrounding region of New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties have changed significantly over the past several decades. In the past ten years alone, the City of Wilmington has experienced a population growth of over 40 percent and an increase in population density of about 12 percent. Accordingly, demand for transit service has increased and evolved.

The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority (CFPTA), doing business as Wave Transit, is the primary provider of general public transit services in the region. In 2004, Wave Transit established a new structure for services in the region, and ridership has increased significantly over the past few years. However, while the service design was an improvement, it was built around a series of route loops and three transfer locations. As a result, the network imposed long travel times on some trips, in some cases required using multiple routes to make a single out-and-back trip, and duplicated service in several locations.

In 2011, Wave Transit retained the consulting team of Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates and Hayes Planning Associates to conduct a Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP). The SRTP was designed to set the strategic direction for the transit system’s development over the next five years, guided by the assumption that there will be no net increase in system funding. Among the key challenges was the need to retain geographic coverage, while balancing the need to provide a direct, consistent, and easily understandable route structure. Nelson\Nygaard and Hayes Planning conducted a detailed review of service needs and opportunities, using a combination of passenger surveys, stakeholder interviews, and route-by-route evaluations. Building on this analysis and working closely with WAVE, the team created two system redesign options. These options were vetted with the public and revised based on their comments. The final service design balances straightening out many of the loops while retaining service coverage, strengthens the connection between downtown Wilmington and Forden Station, creates shorter travel times for many riders, and reduces service duplication. It is scheduled for implementation in the Fall 2012.

As noted by the client at the end of the project, “This SRTP is truly an outstanding plan and concept that will lead to successful years for public transportation in Southeastern NC. Your staff truly developed a cohesive and detailed plan that we hope to implement within the next 6-12 months, and our transit system and greater Wilmington community are thankful to them for such a significant contribution to improving the quality of life for the residents of Southeastern NC.”