Getting from here to there
Post by Sharon Nye
The semester is officially in full swing, and my weekly commute to and from Raleigh has begun. Lucky for me, I can get to Raleigh in several different ways because Raleigh is an incredibly accessible city through public transportation.
Planes, trains, and automobiles…
RDU is only a short drive from campus.
Raleigh/Durham International Airport(RDU) is located only about 20 minutes away from the heart of NC State’s campus. Flights are constantly going in and out of RDU taking folks to places all over the world. With the airport being so close to campus, it is a great resource for students who live further away from North Carolina.
When I go home I don’t fly; instead I go by car, bus or train. Freshman at NC State are allowed to have a car on campus, but like all other students they have to purchase a parking permit through the NC State Transportation Office. The system for getting a parking permit is based on the number of credits a student has earned, those with more credits get higher priority for parking. I did not have a car on campus my freshman year, and I am really glad that I didn’t; parking on campus can be stressful, and as a freshman walking can be a great way to get to know the city.
Raleigh is very accessible by public transportation
Another way that I have made the trek home is by taking the bus. There is a greyhound station only blocks from the state capital in the heart of downtown. I have also used a fairly new bus system called the Megabus, which has several routes throughout the country, including from Richmond to Durham. With Triangle Transit buses running continuously throughout the triangle it is easy to make the short trip to Durham to catch the bus.
The third and final way to travel in and out of Raleigh is by taking the train. The train station in downtown Raleigh has a great view of the Raleigh skyline and has always provided me a great place to relax while I wait for the train.
