Infrastructure, Transit & Vision 2030

Fayetteville's growth is shaped by more than its military base. Behind the scenes, city planners are upgrading transit, trails, corridors, and stormwater systems to make the metro more connected and resilient.

This guide summarizes the big pieces: public transit, airport improvements, greenway expansion, corridor revitalization, and long term planning under Vision 2030.

FAST: Rebuilding the bus system

The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) runs fixed route buses across the city and into key corridors.

Recent and ongoing priorities include:

• Rebuilding service after pandemic era ridership drops
• Adjusting routes and schedules to better match where people live and work
• Exploring micro transit or on demand options for late night and low ridership periods
• Planning for future electric buses as the current fleet retires

For visitors, FAST remains primarily a commuter system rather than an attraction hopper, but improvements over time should make it more useful for residents who do not drive.

Airport upgrades at Fayetteville Regional (FAY)

Fayetteville Regional Airport is the main commercial gateway into the city. While it will never be as large as Raleigh Durham, local leaders recognize that the first impression at FAY matters.

Capital projects focus on:

• Modernizing terminal interiors and passenger flow
• Improving security and baggage handling areas
• Enhancing amenities for arriving and departing travelers

For now, most long haul flights still route through Charlotte or Atlanta, but incremental upgrades at FAY make it a more comfortable and efficient starting point for trips.

Trails, river access, and green infrastructure

One of the most visible pieces of Fayetteville's infrastructure strategy is the network of trails and greenways.

Cape Fear River Trail

The Cape Fear River Trail serves as a north south spine along the river, connecting:

• Jordan Soccer Complex on the north end
• Clark Park Nature Center, waterfalls, and the Riverside Dog Park

The paved path and boardwalks double as both recreation and alternative transportation, giving walkers, runners, and cyclists a safe corridor away from traffic.

City parks and regional connections

City investments support:

• Improvements at J Bayard Clark Park, Lake Rim Park, Arnette Park, and other assets
• Links between neighborhoods and the riverfront
• Planning work to eventually extend trails and greenways into more communities

Carvers Creek State Park and Cape Fear Botanical Garden, while managed by other entities, benefit from local road and signage improvements that help residents and visitors find and use them.

Corridor revitalization: Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard

Fayetteville's gateways shape how both residents and visitors perceive the city.

Two of the most important corridors under study are:

• Murchison Road: A key route between downtown and Fort Liberty, historically underserved and now the focus of plans to improve safety, aesthetics, and economic opportunity without displacing long time residents.
• Bragg Boulevard: A traditional commercial strip that links the city core to Spring Lake and Fort Liberty, targeted for streetscape improvements, access management, and long term redevelopment.

These efforts aim to replace dated, car dominated environments with more attractive, walkable, and business friendly streets over time.

Stormwater and resilience

Located in the Sandhills and along the Cape Fear River, Fayetteville is no stranger to heavy rain and the impacts of hurricanes.

Infrastructure work in this area includes:

• Expanding and maintaining stormwater systems to reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods
• Upgrading culverts, drainage ditches, and retention basins
• Incorporating resilience planning into new development and road projects

While these projects are less visible than a new trail or stadium, they are critical to keeping roads passable and homes safer during major storms.

Vision 2030 and beyond

The city's long term Vision 2030 framework ties these pieces together. Key themes include:

• Making Fayetteville more connected across neighborhoods and employment centers
• Strengthening the spine between downtown and Fort Liberty
• Improving gateways and first impressions along major corridors
• Leveraging green infrastructure and parks to boost quality of life

For residents and prospective relocators, these projects signal that Fayetteville is investing in its future, not just reacting to the present.

For visitors, the payoff shows up as easier navigation, better signed attractions, and more opportunities to experience the river, trails, and parks that define the Sandhills landscape.