Strategically located on the US-64 corridor of I-95—midway between the Triangle and the coast—Rocky Mount is rapidly emerging as a regional logistics and workforce hub. Key infrastructure investments, including the CSX Carolina Connector intermodal rail terminal and the nearby Kingsboro Business Park—North Carolina’s only shovel-ready megasite—have laid the foundation for job creation and long-term prosperity. Additionally, the recent expansion of the Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport has increased cargo capacity, further elevating the city’s profile among employers and site selectors.

Yet, as the region prepares to welcome new industries and expand existing businesses, a vital question remains: how can Rocky Mount make it easy for the workers to get here?

That question led community leaders, city officials, and transportation advocates to the same solution—launching a commuter bus system between Rocky Mount and Raleigh. This new service will help meet the immediate need for workforce mobility while laying the groundwork for a broader transit network connecting Eastern North Carolina to the state’s urban centers, with Rocky Mount as the hub. Community leaders included members of the Mayor’s Office, Rocky Mount Chamber, City of Rocky Mount, Carolinas Gateway Partnership, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, and N.C.D.O.T.

“It's one of the first questions an employer asks when considering Rocky Mount: where will the workers come from?” said Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson. “It’s not uncommon for companies to draw from a 60-to-90-mile radius, and that includes the Triangle area. With this new commuter service, we’re tapping into a labor pool of more than three million people, helping both new and longtime employers fill jobs with qualified workers.”

The idea gained traction quickly, building on earlier efforts to connect the region. In 2020, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a similar commuter bus concept to bring Raleigh workers to Rocky Mount following the relocation of the state DMV headquarters. Though COVID-19 halted that initiative, the groundwork and research it produced laid a strong foundation for the new plan.

“Supporting the retention and expansion of our existing businesses is often even more valuable than recruiting new ones,” Roberson added. “And younger workers increasingly prefer the amenities of larger cities like Raleigh. This service lets them live where they want—and still work in Rocky Mount’s growing industries.”

The Commuter Bus Initiative aims to save commuters money, reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and enhance their ability to attract talent from outside of Rocky Mount. Future plans for the Commuter Bus system are to link the eastern portion of North Carolina, the hub being in Rocky Mount, to urban transit centers such as Raleigh, the Triangle, Wilmington, and the smaller municipalities in between.

“The Rocky Mount region is in the beginning stages of a significant growth stage,” says Norris Tolson, special projects economic development for the Rocky Mount Chamber and former president and ceo of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership. “Getting employees to their job site is an ever-increasing need as we now hire from 25-30 counties around the region. Increasing fuel prices and other transportation issues make bus transportation more equitable. This grant will help us not only help ease that challenge but is also a great tool to help recruit the much-needed work force.”

The service will launch with a dedicated route between Rocky Mount and Raleigh, offering weekday service during peak commuting hours. Over time, leaders envision a broader Eastern North Carolina commuter network—linking communities such as Wilson, Greenville, Roanoke Rapids, Elizabeth City, and others—to Rocky Mount and ultimately to the Triangle. There is overwhelming support of this initiative by key manufacturers including Pfizer, Cummins, Sarah Lee, Kaba; political leaders such as Sen. Barnes, and Rep. Chesser, and US Senators Tillis and Budd; as well as all three institutions of higher learning in Rocky Mount.

“This is a bold and necessary step toward making our region more connected, competitive, and inclusive,” said David Farris, president and ceo of the Rocky Mount Chamber. “Reliable commuter transit opens the door for people to access good jobs—and for employers to find the talent they need. This transportation initiative will continue our region’s growth and spark continued economic development.”

The $3 million NCDOT grant provides critical startup funding for vehicles, operations, and marketing. The City of Rocky Mount and its regional partners are now working with transit consultants and stakeholders to finalize details.

As Rocky Mount embraces its role as a regional employment center, this investment in commuter transit helps ensure that growth is not just possible—but sustainable and inclusive.

About Mayor Sandy Roberson

Elected on the strength of his leadership supporting safer neighborhoods, economic development and job creation, stronger schools, workforce development and the community working together as One Rocky Mount, Mayor Sandy Roberson continues to focus on these issues in his second term. For more information, please visit www.sandyroberson.com.

###