CHAPEL HILL, NC – STV today announced it has been selected by the Town of Chapel Hill to provide construction management (CM) services for the NS RAPID project, a $197 million, federally supported bus rapid transit (BRT) investment that will reshape mobility along the town’s busiest multimodal corridor. The 8.2-mile BRT line will connect riders to the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Southern Village, UNC medical facilities and park-and-ride hubs.

The project includes more than five miles of dedicated bus-only lanes, 29 stations with premium amenities and traffic signal upgrades designed to improve reliability and travel times. NS RAPID will operate as part of Chapel Hill Transit’s fare-free system, ensuring free rides for all users. Service is targeted to begin in 2030.

“Successful bus rapid transit projects are built through strong partnerships among agencies, designers and construction teams,” said Kristin White, PE, CCM, engineering director for CM services in North Carolina at STV. “Our team is focused on keeping Chapel Hill moving during construction and delivering a reliable, rider-ready system that supports the town from day one.”

STV will act as an extension of Chapel Hill Transit staff, overseeing contractor coordination, cost and schedule controls, utility relocation, safety and quality assurance and federal compliance. The project is funded in part through the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts program.

“NS RAPID is designed to make it easier to get to class, work, healthcare, shopping and home,” said Katy Fontaine, transit development manager at Chapel Hill Transit. “We’re excited to partner with STV to help deliver a project that will improve how our community moves every day.”

As a leading multidisciplinary consultant for BRT systems, STV has provided planning, design, construction management and program management (CM/PM) services for transit agencies nationwide. The firm supports every stage of project delivery, with extensive experience in handling federal funding requirements, utility coordination, roadway construction and managing community impacts on complex urban corridors. Marquee projects include the award-winning Pulse BRT in Richmond, Virginia; the Flash BRT Program Development in Montgomery County, Maryland; and the G Line BRT in Los Angeles, California.