Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority
The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, operating as Wave Transit, is the public transportation operator for the metro area of Wilmington, North Carolina. Sixteen regular routes are provided, with all but one running seven days per week. A downtown shuttle also runs using replica trolleys.
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| Founded | 1974 |
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| Headquarters | 505 Cando Street |
| Locale | Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Service area | New Hanover County, North Carolina |
| Service type | Bus service |
| Routes | 16 |
| Hubs | Forden Station
505 Cando St. Wilmington, NC 28405 Padgett Station 520 North 3rd St. Wilmington, NC 28401 |
| Stations | 2 |
| Fleet | 66 |
| Fuel type | Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) |
| Chief executive | Marie Parker, Executive Director |
| Website | wavetransit.com |
History of Wave Transit
Created in 1974, the Wilmington Transit Authority (WTA) was implemented to provide public transportation to the citizens of the Wilmington area.
In December 2002, the WTA adopted the name Wave, as well as a new logo and color scheme for the Authority. This change reflected a new vision for public transportation in Wilmington. Capitalizing on the coastal environment, the name Wave allowed greater name recognition throughout the area and positively represented public transportation throughout the region.
Rapid sprawl and rising traffic congestion throughout the region led the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County to enter into an historic agreement in June 2003. The city and county merged the WTA and New Hanover Transportation Services to form the Wilmington/New Hanover Transportation Agency (WNHTA). This agreement merged the respective organizations for one year, in order to provide oversight of both agencies under one public transportation authority.
In July of 2004 the WNHTA, the WTA and NHTS were dissolved and a new transportation authority was created. The merged entity officially became the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, but retained the branded name of Wave Transit.
In an effort to better serve the community, in 2011, Wave Transit restructured all fixed routes in the region. The new routes were based on a modern transfer facility, Forden Station, which is centrally located within the service area. Expanded service required additional infrastructure, and a 36,000 square foot Wave Transit Operations Center was built to house a maintenance shop, bus garage, fueling station, and serve as the epicenter of service operation. The Operations Center opened in June 2015. The most recent improvement, a downtown multimodal transportation center, Padgett Station, replaced an open air transfer point on 2nd St in January 2020.
Route list
Fixed Route:
| Route 101 | Princess Place |
| Route 103 | Oleander East |
| Route 104 | Northeast |
| Route 105 | Medical Center |
| Route 106 | Shipyard Blvd. |
| Route 107 | College Rd. |
| Route 108 | Market St. |
| Route 201 | Carolina Beach Rd. |
| Route 202 | Oleander West |
| Route 205 | Longleaf Park |
| Route 207 | North |
| Route 210 | South 17th St. |
| Route 301 | Pleasure Island |
Seahawk Shuttle:
704 Yellow Route - every 20 minutes
711 Grey Route - every 20 minutes
707 Red Express Route - suspended through June 2021
Port City Trolley:
MONDAY – FRIDAY: 7:20am – 8:00pm SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 10:40am – 6:00pm
Fares
| Adult one-way pass | $2.00 |
| Reduced fare one-way pass for individuals 65 and older (with Medicare card or valid ID) | $1.00 |
| Reduced fare one-way pass student (grades K thru 12 & local college students with valid ID) | $1.00 |
| Reduced fare one-way pass for individuals with disabilities (with Wave Reduced Fare Rider ID) | $1.00 |
| UNCW Students (with valid UNCW ID) | Free |
| Transfers (no transfers offered or allowed to/from route 301) | Free |
| Adult one day pass (valid for 24 consecutive hours) | $5.00 |
| Reduced fare one day pass (valid for 24 consecutive hours) | $2.50 |
| Adult seven day pass (valid for 7 consecutive calendar days) | $20.00 |
| Reduced fare seven day pass (valid for 7 consecutive calendar days) | $10.00 |
| Adult thirty-one day pass (valid for 31 consecutive calendar days) | $80.00 |
| Reduced fare thirty-one day pass (valid for 31 consecutive calendar days) | $40.00 |
| Adult ten ride pass (valid for 10 rides) | $20.00 |
| Reduced fare ten ride pass (valid for 10 rides) | $10.00 |
| Accessible Van Service Dial-A-Ride-Transportation (DART) one-way ticket (valid for DART service only) | $4.00 |
| Accessible Van Service Dial-A-Ride-Transportation (DART) 10 ticket book (valid for 10 rides DART service only) | $40.00 |
Reduced Fare and Free Fare Programs
We offer free and reduced fare bus passes to the groups listed below. Customers eligible for reduced fare may also purchase multi-ride passes at half price. Discounts are not available for the DART service.
- Customers age 65 years or older are eligible to ride for half price with a red, white & blue Medicare card, or a valid photo ID.
- Individuals with disabilities are eligible to ride for half price with a red, white & blue Medicare card or a valid Wave Reduced Fare Card. Click here to download a Reduced Fare Card Application for persons with disabilities.
- Military Veterans are eligible to ride for half price with a valid New Hanover County (NHC) Veteran ID card. ID cards are available at NHC Register of Deeds offices, free of charge. For more information call
- Students in grades K through 12 and local college students are eligible to ride for half price with a valid ID. Students enrolled in a school that does not provide ID cards may apply for a Wave Transit Reduced Fare Card.
- UNCW students, faculty and staff ride free.
- Children ages zero to four (0-4) ride free with a fare paying adult. No more than three children may ride for free with each fare paying adult.
Transfer Passes
An optional transfer pass is included in the price of a one-way bus pass to provide continuous service for a trip not served by a single route. A transfer pass must be requested at time of boarding. Transfer passes are valid for seventy-five (75) minutes. Transfers cannot be used to/from Route 301.
Multi-Ride Bus Passes
24 hour bus passes are valid for twenty-four (24) continuous hours from the time the card is first used for transportation. Passes can be purchased from any bus operator or at Forden Station.
Ten (10) Ride passes are valid for ten one way trips. Optional transfer passes are included in the price and must be requested at time of boarding. Ten Ride passes have no expiration and can only be purchased at Forden Station.
Seven-day (7) passes are valid for seven (7) consecutive days (ie. Monday- Sunday. Holidays are considered as consecutive days, although bus service may not be provided). The first day of the pass begins when the passenger first uses the pass and is valid for the next seven (7) consecutive days Passes can be bought from any bus operator or at Forden Station.
Thirty-one (31) day passes are valid for thirty-one (31) consecutive days (ie. Monday- Sunday. Holidays are considered as consecutive days, although bus service may not be provided). The first day of the pass begins when the passenger first uses the pass and is valid for the next thirty-one (31) consecutive days. Passes can be bought from any bus operator or at Forden Station.
Stations
Forden Station
Open Monday to Friday between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
505 Cando St.
Wilmington, NC 28405
Padgett Station
Open Monday to Friday between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
520 North 3rd St.
Wilmington, NC 28401