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Short-term changes to DTR bus station on deck
Since Raleigh Magazine’s March deep dive on the future of the GoRaleigh Moore Square Bus Station, the conversation hasn’t slowed. Stakeholders have been blunt: The transit hub has become a significant drag on DTR’s growth—citing crime, grime and a strain on the city’s resources—and have pushed to relocate it Downtown.
Since March, Raleighites have voiced opinions to City Council, local outlets have weighed in, and social media has amplified the debate. But for now, City Hall isn’t budging on the move.
In a mid-April e-newsletter, Mayor Janet Cowell issued a response, clarifying that discussions to date are focused on improving the existing station—not relocating it. “There has been a recent flurry of press stories about discontent with conditions at the Downtown GoRaleigh station,” she wrote, pointing to concerns about cleanliness, crime and loitering.
Some changes are already in motion. The City has added both uniformed and undercover cops on buses (in place since late 2025), expanded private security, and increased on-site staffing for additional presence and incident response. Bus drivers are now trained in de-escalation, and a revised rider code of conduct aims to give enforcement clearer backing.
“It gives you something written to fall back on so you can enforce it,” Cowell told RM in a follow-up interview.
So far, early results are mixed. Cowell said police have seen improvements in areas where visibility has been addressed—like removing overgrown bushes—but acknowledged “there are still improvements that can be made.”
And the ripple effects extend beyond the station itself. “Some of the tax dollars in that area—the expenditures—have been a little lower, so that’s how we know some of those issues spillover into businesses and visitation,” added Cowell. “We’d like to strengthen the Moore Square area and eastern Downtown as a whole.”
Next up, a slate of near-term fixes are planned, including improved lighting and environmental design tweaks to eliminate dark nooks and crannies—along with a closer look at how to secure the station during overnight closures (12:30–4am).
A longer 12–18 month study was floated, then deemed “unacceptable” due to its long timeline. Instead, the City is pushing for a faster review to generate recommendations on a tighter clock.
Ultimately, the goal, Cowell says, is a station that feels safe, clean and functional—especially as Bus Rapid Transit comes online. “A positive experience,” she told RM, “helps build up ridership and is part of a larger transit ecosystem.”
Because this isn’t just about one station. It’s about how Raleigh moves.
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