Downtown Multimodal Center
At a glance
- What: a planned downtown multimodal transit center on a site of just under 10 acres west of the existing Cary Depot, across Harrison Avenue. It would serve local and regional buses, planned bus rapid transit, bike share, intercity passenger rail and commuter rail, and may include non-transit uses.
- Where it stands (Oct 8, 2026): all 21 parcels acquired (final one in 2025); building demolition nearly complete. Staff are starting a community visioning and feasibility phase, with public engagement beginning in January and running through 2027.
- What's next: concepts and public comment, possible RFP or partnerships, then design and construction. The center must open before federally funded western bus rapid transit service starts, currently scheduled for 2032.
Background
- The site came from a 2018-2020 feasibility study and was approved by council in 2020. The existing depot is at capacity and its short rail platforms contribute to delays at the Harrison and Academy crossings.
- The facility itself has no federal funding. Transit uses are eligible for Wake Transit funds (no estimate yet); other uses would need other funding or partnerships.
Council questions and ideas
- Developer and resident input on what else belongs on the site; concern that too many added uses drive up cost; sponsorship or naming rights; multilevel design; benefit to downtown businesses.
- Planning is mostly in-house with existing Wake Transit planning funds; no new budget request now.
Discussion time
About 22 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-08 - Town Council Work Session | 22 |
Log
- 2026-10-08 - Town Council Work Session - Go Cary transit and planning staff gave the multimodal center update: why the site, demolition status, 2032 BRT deadline, and the visioning, engagement and feasibility phase starting in January. No action.
- 2026-07-23 - Town Council Work Session - Demolition under way on the 21 town-owned parcels (seven done); a master planning exercise will come to council this fall with six to seven months of engagement starting around the new year. Transit portion funded through the Wake Transit plan. No action.