Greensboro Transit Agency is the operator of public transportation in the Greensboro, North Carolina area. It complements three other local and one regional bus service in the Piedmont Triad. Fifteen routes travel almost solely within the city limits. In 1991, the Greensboro Transit Agency assumed operation of a private bus system run by Duke Energy. The Greensboro Transit Agency consists of nine board members, each appointed for a two-year term by members of Greensboro City Council. GTA collaborated with seven local colleges and universities in 2006 to create Higher Education Area Transit, with nine routes serving the higher learning institutions and select destinations throughout the city. GTA also operates Specialized Community Area Transportation a door-to-door and curb-to-curb transportation service for passengers with a disability that makes riding fixed routes difficult. In early 2011, GTA added a number of diesel-electric hybrid buses to their fleet. There are currently 45 fixed-route buses in the GTA fleet, consisting of New Flyer, Gillig, and Chevrolet makes. There are 10 buses for HEAT, all Chevrolet makes. SCAT has almost 50 paratransit vans. GTA also has ten battery-electric rechargeable buses manufactured by Proterra, Inc.
History
Public Transportation Timeline
1925 - Southern Public Utilities, a subsidiary of Duke Power, begins public transportation services in Greensboro
1964 - National civil rights laws end segregation on public buses
1988 - Voters pass referendum authorizing property tax to support public transit
1990 - City of Greensboro takes over transit services from Duke Power
1991 - Greensboro City Council creates Greensboro Transit Authority; fare is 50 cents per trip
1992 - GTA carries one millionth rider; launches Career Express
1992 - GTA receives first lift-equipped buses and SCAT vans
1993 - Bus fare is 70 cents per trip
1995 - GTA displays first advertising painted bus
1996 - African-American female appointed Public Transportation Manager
1997 - Bus fare is $1 per trip
1998 - Evening modified bus service offered for first time since departure of Duke Transit
1999 - Evening and Sunday fixed schedule offered
2000 - GTA debuts talking buses
2002 - SCAT service area adjusted to 3/4 mile of Fixed Route Corridor except for previously established trips.
2003 - Opening of J. Douglas Galyon Depot multi-modal transportation center ; six-month operational analysis performed on SCAT recommended elimination of monthly pass and grandfathered trips, establishment of premium fare for non-ADA trips and development of a method of payment for users who cannot easily manipulate a cash fare
2004 - GTA Board established a two-tiered fare structure that enabled riders who resided or traveled beyond the ADA service area to ride SCAT at a higher rate
2005 City Council votes to terminate the two-tiered fare structure, institute a "single ADA paratransit service" and extend the SCAT service area to anywhere within the City limits at the same base fare for all trips
2006 - Higher Education Area Transit begins service
2007 - GTA Board adopts revised fare structure that supported City Council recommendation; adds sedans to fleet; GTA fare is $1.10 per trip; HEAT website wins American Public Transportation Association AdWheel Award; 30-minute service begins on all daytime routes
2008 - GTA fare is $1.20 per trip
2009 - Daytime routes extended from 7 to 15 routes; fare increased to $1.30 per trip as part of third planned fare increase
2010 - GTA radio commercial wins American Public Transportation Association AdWheel Award; GTA Transportation Center offers free Wi-Fi and electronic charging station; HEAT adds direct routes to area shopping districts; construction begins on new Operations and Maintenance Facility and Administrative Offices
2011 - GTA places into operation Greensboro's first diesel-electric hybrid buses
2012 - GTA completes construction on new 66,000-square-foot Operations/Maintenance Facility and Administrative Office at 223 W. Meadowview Rd, fares increased to $1.50 per trip
2014 - Debut of GoPass, GTA's first rechargeable smart card
2015 - GTA wins marketing awards from North Carolina City-County Communicators
2016 - Live bus tracking begins
2017 - GTA wins American Public Transportation Association AdWheel Marketing Award
2018 - North Carolina's first battery-electric buses to be placed into municipal service begins serving Greensboro. GTA wins American Public Transportation Association AdWheel Marketing Award
2019 - Greensboro City Council changes Greensboro Transit Authority Board to Greensboro Transit Advisory Commission
Route list
This list does not include the HEAT routes which are also operated by the Greensboro Transit Agency with GTA fares.
