Durham Station rolls out to DATA bus traffic for the first time

The grand opening for the new Durham Station multimodal center isn't set to take place until Monday morning -- a press conference and fancy-shmancy ribbon cutting is scheduled for 11am.

But DATA buses rolled in for the first time this morning, and the new Durham Station saw its initial set of passengers. We stopped by for some photos and to see how things went with the first morning at the new transit center.

One of the reasons for having an early shakedown of a new facility before the oversized scissors and ribbons come out is to be sure all the kinks are worked out. A small wrinkle or two aside, though, Durham Station came to life with little fanfare and less trouble.

A half hour before the first buses pulled up for the first mass transfer and departure (which takes place at 7am on Sundays, as the 6:30am inbound buses collect passengers bound for the downtown station), the big question in the station seemed to be whether the interior lights would come on or not. After a hunt for the interior lighting controls -- external controls in the bus bays are automated -- the computerized system seemed to lock up, a problem remedied by General Services an hour or so later.

And just to avoid any confusion, note that Greyhound inter-city buses will continue to operate from their temporary facility at the corner of Duke St. & Chapel Hill St. until the end of the month, when their lease terminates at the site. (History will note Durham Station's first passenger arrival this morning was a N.C. Department of Corrections officer and his charge, replete with paperwork, seeking the Greyhound station just before 6:30; a brief conversation later, they headed westbound again on Chapel Hill St.)

Yet where the rubber literally meets the road, Durham Station did just fine in unloading and transferring its passengers. When the first buses rolled into their new diagonal bays -- far better marked and organized in the spacious new terminal than they could have been in the cramped facility in the downtown loop -- several dozen transferring passengers found their way quickly under the awnings and along the landscaped walking paths between the various bays.

It's DATA-only today, though Triangle Transit riders can expect to see their buses pulling in to the berths on the eastern side of the station (nearest American Tobacco) on Monday.

Given the early-morning hour and the fact that few passengers were originating at the station for the morning, hardly anyone made it into the new station that first run, save for the couple of dozen Durham Police Department officers heading in for their training. The exterior of the facility will be patrolled by Wackenhut security guards, with off-duty DPD staff providing security inside.

Below, a look inside the new station, plus a look at the first roll-out of Durham Station:

We'll close with a few more photos from this morning's activity.

Comments

[Erik]

Your dedication is impressive - I think the last time I got up that early on a Sunday was the day I was born.

A quick addendum: All daytime Triangle Transit routes heading east (NCCU, Durham Tech, RTP, and Raleigh) will still use the stop on Pettigrew St outside of the American Tobacco Parking Deck. Routes heading west (Duke and Chapel Hill) and any nighttime routes (after 7pm) will use the easternmost gates in Durham Station as Kevin notes. Just wanted to make sure there was no confusion on the first couple of days.

One of the interesting things about Durham Station to me is to see how many people actually use the building itself and which service they are primarily using. Once Greyhound moves in my guess is that more people will use the station. Some people transferring between DATA and Triangle Transit (if there is some wait time) or those walking to the station may also use it some. But if DATA's system works correctly, most people will just get off one bus and onto another without actually entering the station.

In any case, this is a terrific addition to Durham!

[keith]

I don't know if this has been touted quite enough--hallelujiah that drivers on the loop will no longer have to play dodge-the-bus as they try to get over to take a right onto chapel hill street!

[Jill]

Yes, Keith, Hallelujah indeed! I hadn't thought about that. As one who takes that right every morning, it will be great not to play dodge-the-bus any more.

[durhamfood]

I was there this morning, getting off of the number 10 and onto the number 6 on my way into work (too cold to bike this morning and I wanted to check out the new station). People on the bus nodded approvingly as the bus pulled in and all seemed to be going smoothly. It's quite nice to have so much more room at the bus terminal!

Anyone know what's going to be done with the old terminal?

[durhamguy]

I love that the drop-off area is labeled on signs as "Kiss and Ride"

[BigCity Bill]

GREAT that a new bus station is in effect!! What about an up-to-times train station? It would be nice to take a bus to the new station then (not cross the street) take a train to a nearby city. Just thinking further ahead in the future.