The City of Winston-Salem is examining potential changes to its public bus system, Mayor J. Allen Joines announced Thursday. The review comes as the city considers moving away from the long-standing “hub-and-spoke” design operated by the Winston Salem Transit Authority (WSTA).
Currently, riders must travel to the downtown Clark Campbell Transit Center before transferring to other buses, a process that can increase travel time and inconvenience for passengers. Mayor Joines said this model may no longer meet the needs of residents due to shifting employment centers and major destinations such as shopping malls and medical facilities.
“Moving from a ‘hub-and-spoke’ system to more cross-city and direct routes should provide better service to our transit customers and potentially increase ridership,” Joines said.
He added, “I am pleased to note that our city staff is underway with studies to determine the feasibility of such a change. If it proves to be feasible financially and operationally, this change could negate the need for a large downtown transit center that could potentially be replaced by a series of mini centers dispersed throughout the city.”
Mayor Joines emphasized that improving rider experience remains central in any decision about changes to the system. “I want to emphasize that the most important aspect of any changes is to improve the rider experience. A solid public transit system is vital to the ability of many of our citizens to get work, obtain medical assistance, or meet other transportation needs. The more user-friendly the system is, the more we can serve our citizens, increase the efficiency of the system, and contribute to the city’s goal of reducing our carbon emissions.”
The study will assess whether new routes would make transit more accessible while supporting efforts toward environmental sustainability.
