Reimagine Wave Transit
Wave Transit is excited to launch its new short-range transit plan called Reimagine Wave Transit. This project charts a course for our future as the Wilmington region’s transit provider.
What is Reimagine Wave Transit?
Reimagine Wave Transit is a short-range transit plan that will provide recommendations for what transit in Wilmington, New Hanover County, and the surrounding area should look like and do in the near-term. It is a chance to evaluate existing services, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement new and improved services. Wave Transit and transit systems everywhere periodically develop Short-Range Transit Plans. Our last plan was completed in 2018.
This study will focus on how we can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our transit service within funding restrictions. Due to uncertain funding levels, the plan will offer service options for three funding environments – a budget decrease, an unchanged budget, or a budget increase. Detailed information is available for each funding scenario:
30% Increased Revenue
Cost-Neutral or Unchanged Revenue
30% Decreased Revenue
Provide Feedback on our Draft Recommendations for Changes to Wave Transit
Wave Transit values your feedback on these recommendations and wants its final recommendations to reflect the feedback and preferences of the public.
Please click the button below to fill out a comment form related to Reimagine Wave Transit’s draft recommendations.
Proposed Changes by Route
The proposed changes are determined by available funding. Beneath each route name is a link that shows all potential changes for three funding scenarios – 30% less funding, existing funding levels, and 30% more funding.
To view proposed changes for all routes at once, click here.
- Route 101 – Princess Place
- Route 103 – Oleander East
- Route 104 – East
- Route 105 – Medical Center
- Route 106 – Shipyard Blvd
- Route 107 – College Rd
- Route 108 – Market St
- Route 201 – Carolina Beach Rd
- Route 202 – Oleander West
- Route 203 – Port City Trolley
- Route 205 – Long Leaf Park
- Route 210 – South 17th St
- *NEW* Route 109 – Forden-Shipyard
- *NEW* Route 206 – Oleander Dr
Route 101 – Princess Place
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 101 would be redesigned to provide service in both directions on Emory St and N 30th St between Forden Station and Padgett Station. This will improve access to the Creekwood Community from Padgett Station.
Route 103 – Oleander East
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three funding scenarios, Route 103 would be replaced by new routes Route 109 Forden-Shipyard and Route 206 Oleander Dr
Route 104 – East
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Under the decreased and neutral funding scenarios, Route 104 East would be discontinued and replaced by Route 206 Oleander Dr and RideMICRO Zone 2. Under an increased funding scenario, the route would be redesigned to operate between Forden Station and Mayfaire in both directions via Market St.
Route 105 – Medical Center
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Under all three scenarios, Route 105 Medical Center would be renamed to Route 105 Wrightsville Ave and operate in both directions between the Medical Center and Forden Station via Market St, S Kerr Ave, Randall Pkwy, Wrightsville Ave, Covil Ave, Wilshire Blvd, and Castle St.
Route 106 – Shipyard Blvd
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 106 Shipyard Blvd would be renamed to Route 106 Independence Blvd and operate in both directions between Medical Center and Forden Station via Independence Blvd
Route 107 – College Rd
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 107 College Rd would serve Long Leaf Mall at the corner of Shipyard Blvd and College Rd. This would improve access to shopping centers, Hoggard High School, and the Senior Resource Center. Every day of the week, Route 107 and new Route 109 Forden-Shipyard would provide combined 30-minute service along New Centre Dr and College Rd north of Oleander Dr.
Route 108 – Market St
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three funding scenarios, Route 108 Market St will provide service in both directions on 3rd St and Market St between Forden Station and Padgett Station.
Route 201 – Carolina Beach Rd
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 201 Carolina Beach Rd would operate in both directions on 3rd St and Carolina Beach Rd between Padgett Station and Monkey Junction. This would decrease travel times for southbound riders and make the route easier to operate reliably.
Route 202 – Oleander West
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Route 202 Oleander West and Route 103 Oleander East would be combined to create the new Route 206 Oleander Dr. Route 206 Oleander Dr would have one of two eastern terminals based on funding conditions. Under the decreased funding scenario, its eastern terminal would be at Hawthorne Drive and Wrightsville Avenue. Under the neutral and increased funding scenarios, the route would operate to Mayfaire via Military Cutoff Rd.
Route 203 – Port City Trolley
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under a neutral or increased-funding scenario, the Trolley would operate seasonally only, from March 1 through September 30 each year. It would operate year-round with increased funding. Service would operate every 30 minutes and service on Nutt St and south of Castle St would be discontinued. Under a decreased funding scenario, the trolley would be discontinued.
Route 205 – Long Leaf Park
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 205 Long Leaf Park would be renamed to Route 205 Greenfield-Shipyard and be streamlined in both directions between Padgett Station and Monkey Junction via 5th St and 8th St. Together with Route 210, Route 205 will provide more frequent service north of New Hanover Regional Medical Center because both routes will operate on the same streets.
Route 210 – South 17th St
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Route 210 would be renamed to Route 210 Greenfield-S 17th St and be streamlined in both directions between Padgett Station and Monkey Junction via 5th St, 8th St, and St Andrews Dr. Together with Route 205, Route 210 will provide more frequent service north of New Hanover Regional Medical Center because both routes will operate on the same streets.
New Route
Route 109 – Forden-Shipyard
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three funding scenarios, new Route 109 Forden-Shipyard would operate in both directions between Forden Station and Medical Center via New Centre Dr, S College Rd, Oleander Dr, S 41st St, Shipyard Blvd, and S 17th St. It is designed to replace parts of existing Route 103 Oleander East and Route 202 Oleander West.
New Route
Route 206 – Oleander Dr
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under the funding-neutral and increased funding scenarios, new Route 206 Oleander Dr would operate in both directions between Padgett Station and Mayfaire via 3rd St, Wooster St/Dawson St, Wrightsville Ave, and Oleander Dr. Under the reduced funding scenario, its eastern end would be at Wrightsville Ave & Hawthorne Dr. It would operate hourly in all scenarios.
UNCW Seahawk Shuttles
- Route 701 – Blue Shuttle
- Route 702 – Green Shuttle
- Route 703 – Red Shuttle
- Route 704 – Yellow Shuttle
- Route 705 – Campus Loop
- Route 708 – CREST Shuttle
- Route 711 – Grey Shuttle
- Route 712 – Teal Shuttle
Route 701 – Blue Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The redesigned Blue Shuttle is recommended to replace the existing Teal Shuttle. It would provide service in both directions via Racine Dr, Government Center Dr, Oriole Dr, College Rd, and New Centre Dr, from Leutze Hall. The redesigned Blue Shuttle would operate every 30 minutes. Service would be available starting slightly later in the day and ending slightly earlier in the evening.
Route 702 – Green Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The Green Shuttle would start one hour later in the day than it does today.
Route 703 – Red Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The Red Shuttle would be discontinued. Service will be replaced by a more frequent and shortened Yellow Shuttle. The redesigned Yellow Shuttle would provide service between Varsity Dr and Teal Terminal via the College Rd Park and Ride in both directions. These changes would improve access for riders travelling between campus, the College Rd Park and Ride, and student housing near Varsity Rd.
Route 704 – Yellow Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The Yellow Shuttle would provide service between Varsity Dr and Teal Terminal via the College Rd Park and Ride in both directions. These changes would improve access for riders travelling between campus, the College Rd Park and Ride, and student housing near Varsity Rd. Service would be slightly less frequent (every 15 minutes). Existing Yellow Shuttle riders who are boarding along Randall Parkway and Emerson Street would be served by a redesigned ultra-frequent Grey Shuttle.
Route 705 – Campus Loop
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
There are no alignment or schedule changes proposed.
Route 708 – CREST Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The CREST Shuttle would be discontinued due to low ridership. Service to UNCW Center for Marine Science would be replaced by RideMICRO Zone 3 and Route 107.
Route 711 – Grey Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The Grey Shuttle service would be much more frequent (every 6 minutes). The Grey Shuttle would operate via Franklin Ave on the way to campus to better serve existing student housing and begin at Leutze Hall to get riders closer to campus destinations.
Route 712 – Teal Shuttle
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
The Teal Shuttle would be discontinued. Service to Forden Station would be replaced by a redesigned Blue Shuttle that would provide more direct service to shopping destinations south of Forden Station including Walmart, Costco, and Target. The redesigned Blue Shuttle would operate every 30 minutes.
RideMICRO Zones
- Zone 1 - Northern Brunswick
- Zone 2 - Southeast Pender
- Zone 3 - Southern New Hanover
- Zone 4 - Northern New Hanover
RideMICRO Zone 1 – Northern Brunswick
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Zone 1 would be discontinued due to a loss of funding for transit service outside of New Hanover County. Riders traveling within downtown Wilmington can use other routes, including new more frequent service provided by Route 205 and Route 210.
RideMICRO Zone 2 – Southeast Pender
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Zone 2 would be extended along Military Cutoff Rd to Mayfaire and shrunk along Market St from N College Rd to Scotts Hill within a ¼ to ½ mile. Service outside of New Hanover County would be discontinued due to a loss of funding.
RideMICRO Zone 3 – Southern New Hanover
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Zone 3’s coverage area would be shrunk to only serve areas south of Monkey Junction and shrunk along Carolina Beach Rd within a ¼ to ½ mile. These changes would increase the reliability of Zone 3 service and result in shorter wait times for many trips.
RideMICRO Zone 4 – Northern New Hanover
VIEW PROPOSED CHANGES
Summary of Changes
Under all three scenarios, Zone 4’s coverage area would be extended north to Castle Hayne, and no longer serve the northwestern area on Castle Hayne Rd between Crowatan Rd and Thomas Edison St.
Questions? Give us a call or send us an email.
(910) 202 – 2045 | info@wavetransit.com
What are the different phases of Reimagine Wave Transit?
Market Analysis
An examination of the underlying market potential for transit in the region.
State of the System
A detailed analysis of each Wave Transit bus route, microtransit zone, and paratransit service, as well as the network overall.
Public Outreach
Collect ideas, comments, and thoughts from stakeholders and members of the general public about transit service and service alternatives.
Service Alternatives
Create a series of service alternatives that offer options for how the system might be improved.
The final recommendations will contain service changes for Wave Transit that we intend to begin implementing in late 2024. It is important to us that these service changes reflect the needs and desires of our community.
Plan Documents
The documents below explore what we’ve learned so far and potential route changes that could be part of the final plan.
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