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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — For the past three years, bus riders on the GoTriangle system have become accustomed to riding for free. Now, municipalities are questioning whether staying fare free is feasible in the long run.

Suspending fares was done in an effort to protect bus operators and riders from potentially infectious close interactions. It allowed riders to enter from the rear door when boarding to reduce the number of people crowded crowding around the farebox.

Transit agencies like GoRaleigh were able to offset the costs of fare suspension through federal funding it received from the CARES and ARPA acts. Those funds are drying up as the state and national state of emergency have been lifted.

Raleigh transit and city officials are now asking themselves if staying fare free is possible.

City documents show it costs $43.9 million a year to operate GoRaleigh fixes routes. Collected fares from those routes generate 10 to 15 percent of revenue. The GoRaleigh Access program costs about $14 million to run with fares accounting for five and 10 percent of revenue generated.

The question is how to fill the gap if those fares are gone.

Raleigh City Council will discuss the option for reduced fare costs during a meeting this week. Options on the table include fare capping, income based pass programs, and other fare options to ensure system accessibly for those most in need.

Transit staff will provide information about GoRaleigh’s current and future fiscal condition, current ridership and policy considerations, along with the potential benefits and challenges with remaining fare free.

City transit leaders say the cost of operating GoRaleigh has increased since the pandemic. The system has increased its efforts to recruit staff with pay increases and public campaigns. The system says they’ve also seen a sharp demand and cost of the GoRaleigh Access paratransit service.

In addition, the city says GoRaleigh anticipates operating costs to increase 10 to 15 percent for fixed route costs due to a change in a contract structure.

Chapel Hill Transit went fare free 20 years ago thanks to investments from UNC Chapel Hill and the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

Several cities across the country have already gone fare free. They include Olympia, Washington; Summit Stage, Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Rock Hill, South Carolina. Some of those municipalities offset the cost with sales tax revenues.

Stakeholders like Regional Transportation Alliance support fare-free service. They argue it provides equity and breaks down barriers to transit access.

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State will conclude its spring portion of the offseason on Saturday afternoon with the Spring Game being played at 1 p.m. inside Carter-Finley Stadium. After months of workouts and camp season, the Wolfpack will return to the field one final time before the dog days of summer -- and for the last time in front of fans before the regular season starts.

Head coach Dave Doeren spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon less than 48 hours out from the Spring Game. Doeren discussed the conditions the Pack could be playing in, battles currently taking place in camp, progress of transfers and early enrollees and much more.

Read the full transcript from Doeren's availability below.

ON USING WET BALLS AT PRACTICE

We just talked about it. It’ll be an opportunity to play in the rain for sure. In the fall, we get some crazy hurricane weather every now and then. To go out there and see how we handle the conditions — I know it’s not great for fans, but for a football team, it's not a bad thing to go out and play in the rain a little bit. If that’s what comes, we’ll go out and play in it. If it skips us, then we’ll have a nice day.

ON THE FORMAT FOR THE SPRING GAME

It’s the same thing we’ve been doing. The first group will go against everyone else, and we’ll have some guys that sub in and out on both sides of the ball. The first half half will be a normal half and the second half will be running clock. It’ll all be live with the exception of the quarterbacks.

ON IMPACT OF TRANSFERS

There’s a lot of change throughout the spring with these guys. They’re learning how to play with new teammates, so you’re starting to see the chemistry of that. They’re learning new systems. Even for Brennan [Armstrong], there are some new things with what Coach [Robert] Anae has done differently over the last year.

You see all those guys gaining ground mentally on the playbook, but you also see the relationship forming between teammates. We get to know them differently as competitors because winter conditioning isn’t football. We get to see that side of it, too.

ON If the spring game is a motivating factor for players

It can be. For guys who haven’t played a lot in the stadium, those days are really big. It’s really about the amount of information, as coaches, we have on guys. Guys that have played a ton of football probably [won’t play] as much as guys who have not played. Every practice matters. Every walkthrough, every meeting -- we put a lot of stock into everything.

Today was just as important as Saturday, from our standpoint as coaches. It just gives you another lens and how we’re going to potentially manage a tough day of weather. I think that’s a good obstacle for the team as well.

On development of freshmen from last season

I think Brandon Cleveland has definitely made a jump. He was really out of shape last year when we started fall camp and had to play himself into being able to play. Injuries allowed him the opportunity, and he did a great job. He took that lesson to heart, had a good offseason, and has had really good 13 days out here with us.

Michael Allen missed quite a bit of spring, so it’s good to finally get him back. This is his first week of full-go practice, so it’s hard to answer the question on him; we just don’t have enough film. Terrell [Timmons] has been out some, too. He did come back and have a really nice catch in the scrimmage Saturday, so that was good to see. These guys are still really young. They’re still within 12 months of when they moved here. There’s a lot of games in front of them.

On groups he plans to watch closely Saturday

I don’t know if I can single one out for you. There’s a lot of competition going on on the roster, and I want to see how everyone does.

ON CONCERNS DURING OFFSEASON

I want to be healthy. That’s the thing. You just want to get out of Friday night and Saturday with everybody that started those practices, have a really good summer, and continue to build into fall camp and get ready for the season. Things that are out of your control are always the things that kind of haunt you a little bit as a coach. The things we can do better, we’re going to work hard at getting better at those things. That doesn’t concern me as much.

On offensive line play during spring camp

Really good. Coach [Garett] Tujague has done a nice job with that group. Guys are playing with passion. They’ve embraced the new system and changes. There’s a new run game they’re learning, so you’re seeing that growth in the run game.

Other than taking Dylan [McMahon] out for this last week, we’ve had really good success as far as those guys playing with each other every day. That’s important on the O-line: the chemistry of playing next to a guy and having the same guy next to me all the time. We’ve been able to do that, and that’s been good for the offensive line.

On the development of early enrollees

They started really fast. They had a good offseason. Some struggled early on in the offseason and then got better as it went. We got into spring ball. Javonte Vereen and K.C. [Kevin] Concepcion, both of them were really productive early in spring camp, and then both of them kind of hit the wall and missed a week or so with nagging things. They’re both back out playing again.

It’s good to see them rebound. The ability to maintain at this level for a period of time is something that is challenging. It’s normal for a young guy like them, but they’ve shown a lot of life there. Kendrick Raphael, the freshman running back, has really been consistent, probably the most consistent of the group. Isaiah Shirley is consistent.

The offensive linemen, it’s good to see the young offensive linemen get a lot of reps. They’re three really big, long, good-looking guys when you talk about Darion Rivers and Obi [Obasuyi] and how long they are with Rico [Jackson]. To get them reps and reps and reps, it’s exciting because it’s hard to coach 6-foot-6, to have three guys who are that long, but they need to get in the weight room with [Dantonio Burnette]. We’re starting to see what we have and what we don’t have and where we need to fill in with the guys who are going to show up in June.

On secondary play during spring

We look at [Devan Boykin and Jakeen Harris] as returning starters because they have been starters for us. Both of them have started in multiple places in the secondary. All of them have played free, strong, and nickel. They have that kind of flexibility in the system. Rakeim Ashford’s played a lot of football. We look at him that’s got starting experience.

Robert Kennedy’s a starter from another school. Shy Battle’s a returning starter. We have some good experience. Obviously, we lost a great player in Tanner [Ingle], and we’re going to miss what he brought out there, Cyrus [Fagan] and what he brought, [Derreck] Pitts and what he brought, but we do have guys who have played a lot and started, and we’ve got good competition in there. It’s also fun to see Brandon Cisse, the freshman, emerge as a guy that can handle it and play consistently.

ON CECIL POWELL'S RETURN

He’s been non-contact, so he’s been able to do everything but finish tackles and blocking. He’s been able to run, make checks, play the ball, and do all those things, but the last part for him is contact. He’s been through two years of fighting through a tough injury, and to see him playing right now is a win.

ON PLAYERS OUT SATURDAY

There are guys that aren’t cleared to play; those guys won’t be out there. Payton [Wilson] is not in right now. We’ve got so many game reps with him. For the most part, the guys who are at practice will be playing, and we’ll try to get as many guys game reps as we can.

On young linebackers stepping up

Caden Fordham’s really come along this spring. Jayland Parker has gotten a lot better. Torren Wright is a lot better. It’s fun to see that with those younger guys. Obviously, we’ve gotten a lot of banked reps with [Devon] Betty, Jaylon Scott, and Payton. We’ll get those younger backers in there. Kamal Bonner, one of our freshman linebackers, has really done a nice job.

ON RED HIBBLER'S PLAY IN SPRING

He’s been good. He’s got to get in shape still. He still gets tired. He plays hard. He’s got a lot of wiggle.

This year's Dreamville Festival in Raleigh brought some of the biggest names in music to the Triangle. And local spots got to host the celebrities.

Though Raleigh doesn’t have the type of nightclubs that artists such as Drake are used to frequenting (like in Miami or Las Vegas), the stars still found places to party while in town.

Rapper J. Cole and his Dreamville team rented out Vidrio, an upscale restaurant in Glenwood South – Raleigh's nightlife and entertainment district – to host Drake and other guests until the early morning hours. Vidrio was closed to the general public on Friday and Sunday. It hosted the Dreamville VIP after party.

"The Dreamville crowd brought the party and unmatchable vibes to Vidrio. We can’t wait to do it again!" the restaurant posted on its social media pages.

Vidrio is owned by Raleigh-based LM Restaurants. CEO Amber Moshakos told the Triangle Business Journal the restaurant was “fortunate” to host the Dreamville team a few times over the weekend.

On Sunday night, after the last show of the festival wrapped up at Dix Park, the Dreamville crew and performing artists headed to Dave & Busters in Cary. According to social media posts by singers like Summer Walker, the group played arcade games including basketball and air hockey.

The Friday night before the weekend festival, Usher was spotted in Chapel Hill hitting iconic spots on Franklin Street. The R&B superstar made a stop at the bar He’s Not Here and was later seen at pizza joint I Love New York Pizza.

Usher, an eight-time Grammy award-winner, also headed to Big Ed’s Restaurant for brunch on Sunday after his Saturday night headlining set. The restaurant is located in Downtown Raleigh’s City Market.

Several artists from J. Cole’s Dreamville record label greeted fans and participated in events in the Warehouse District on Friday prior to the festival. The Dreamville team hosted panels, DJ sets and a pop-up merch store in the neighborhood, including inside the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh).

Another Downtown Raleigh business, Glenwood South Tailors, got a nod from J. Cole himself. The North Carolina native hired Brian Burnett, owner of the local tailor shop, to do custom tailoring at the festival on Saturday.

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Dontrez Styles announced his departure from North Carolina in March and plans to reveal his transfer destination on Sunday. Styles says he has received the most interest from N.C. State, South Carolina, Georgetown and ECU. He visited Raleigh last weekend and has trips planned for Washington D.C. and Greenville this week.

"It was very sad," Styles said of leaving UNC, via The Bryan Hanks Show. "I didn't want to do it. Being a North Carolina kid, you always want to go to North Carolina. It was always a dream of mine to be here. It was tough. But life moves on. I am ready for this next chapter, and I cannot wait to get back to it. Everybody wants to play."

A former four-star prospect and top-70 recruit, Styles saw action in just 15 games during the 2022-23 season and averaged 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds while shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. Styles averaged just 5.9 minutes in the games he did play in. Among UNC's scholarship players, only Justin McKoy (59 minutes) and Will Shaver (six) played fewer than Styles' 89 total minutes.

Here's what Styles had to say about his recruitment and leaving UNC:

ON LEAVING UNC

"It was very sad. I didn't want to do it. Being a North Carolina kid, you always want to go to North Carolina. It was always a dream of mine to be here. It was tough. But life moves on. I am ready for this next chapter, and I cannot wait to get back to it. Everybody wants to play. I want to play and get back to the player I know I can be. It's a great program. I enjoyed my time there. But I am ready for my next chapter."

"It was very sad. They are my guys. I have been with them for two years. I am just used to it. When you are used to something, and it's time for a change -- It's a little sad. We all understand, and we all want the best for each other, so it will be alright. I never give myself any credit. That's the one thing about me, I don't give myself enough credit at all.

ON WHERE HE STANDS IN HIS RECRUITMENT

"I'm fully open. But the ones being consistent are N.C. State, Georgetown, ECU and South Carolina. It has been a lot. It is always great to have schools want you and show you that. I'm wide open, but a decision is coming soon. I am ready to focus and get back to it and be ready for the journey. It's always a great feeling to have teams want you, going back to high school. Now, the last couple of years have been rough, and to know teams still want me around is always great. I thank God for the opportunity to play basketball at a high level."

ON THE FOUR TEAMS MOST INTERESTED IN HIM

N.C. State: "They're a great team. They're building. They made the NCAA Tournament this year and Coach Kevin Keatts is a great coach. I'm very familiar with the whole coaching staff. Always a positive with them."

Georgetown: "They're building as well. All the schools I have mentioned are building. It's always good to be a guy that is happy to build the team and the culture and help them get back to winning. They have a great coach in Ed Cooley and a great coaching staff."

ECU: "They're building as well. The coaches are great, and they are trying to help them get back to winning a lot of games."

South Carolina: "They didn't have a great year this year, but I know some of the guys on the team, and they're trying to win. I can come and help all the schools that I mentioned. I can't wait to pick a school and try my best to help them get back to winning."

ON WHEN HE PLANS ON MAKING HIS DECISION

"I plan on making my decision on Sunday, but things can change. It is a big decision. I just want to make sure that it is right. If I get to Sunday afternoon and I need more time, I might take a couple more days. You never know, but I am planning on Sunday."

Styles aims to be the third Tar Heel transfer to announce his future destination, following Tyler Nickel's commitment to Virginia Tech and Justin McKoy's commitment to Hawaii.

"I have been through a lot the past four years going back to high school. With the high school injury, with Covid and coming to Chapel Hill. It has been a really tough couple of years, but I am really excited for this next journey and opportunity."

In 2021, Styles injured his neck on an alley-oop attempt during his senior season at Kinston High School. He missed three weeks of action as he recovered in a neck brace.

A Raleigh developer is seeking up to 20 stories with its latest rezoning request for an area along Capital Boulevard inside the Beltline.

Grubb Ventures filed a new rezoning application in March for 2499 Ratchford Drive, according to City of Raleigh records. The proposed rezoning is commercial mixed-use up to 20 stories. The property is currently zoned industrial mixed-use up to three stories.

Grubb Ventures Managing Director of Development Anne Stoddard said there are no immediate plans for development. The property next door, 2501 Ratchford, is already zoned for 20 stories. Grubb partnered with Atlanta-based Jamestown and New Market Strategies of Florida on that rezoning.

If the rezoning for 2499 is approved, it makes just under 10 acres total zoned for up to 20 stories.

The application says the new zoning would allow for redevelopment of the site to go from the current use of auto sales to “uses and densities that can take advantage of the site’s access to transit and the greenway system.” It also increases the residential supply number.

Both 2499 and 2501 have used car dealerships occupying them currently. Crabtree Creek and Crabtree Creek Trail are along the backside of the properties. The site is also near the Interstate 440 interchange.

Grubb Ventures owns both 2499 and 2501, acquiring 2499 for $5.9 million in January and 2501 for $9.5 million in October 2021, according to Wake County deed records. The total assessed value of the lots is about $7.44 million.

Available land inside the Beltline is becoming increasingly rare as Raleigh fills up. A piece of property near the Carolina Country Club just went up for sale. And Oppidan Investment Company is planning 180 affordable units in Southeast Raleigh near the Walnut Creek Shopping Center.

Grubb Ventures and Jamestown are behind Raleigh Iron Works, which recently received rezoning approval for up to 20 stories for the next phase of its project. The company is also developing The Salvage Yard, a mixed-use destination next to Iron Works.