Charlotte Area Transit System
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Overview | |
---|---|
Locale | Charlotte Metropolitan Area |
Transit type | |
Number of lines | 69 (bus and rail combined) |
Number of stations | 3,628 (bus and rail combined) |
Annual ridership | 16,640,000 |
Chief executive | John M. Lewis |
Headquarters | 300 East Trade Street, Charlotte |
Website | https://charlottenc.gov/cats/Pages/default.aspx |
Operation | |
Began operation | 1999 |
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Charlotte metropolitan area. CATS operates bus and rail transit services in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. Established in 1999, CATS' bus and rail operations carry about 320,000 riders on an average week.[1] CATS is governed by the Metropolitan Transit Commission and is operated as a department of the City of Charlotte.[2]
History[]
Origins[]
Prior to 1976, public transportation in Charlotte was entirely privatized. Trolleys operated in the city from 1891 until 1938.[3] Privately operated bus routes also ran in Charlotte until 1976.[4]
In 1976, the City of Charlotte began operating bus routes under the Charlotte Transit brand, which operated from 1976 until CATS' founding in 2000.[5] (Charlotte Transit and the Charlotte Area Transit System are not to be confused despite the similarity in name.) Charlotte Transit operated almost entirely local bus routes, with the exception of two express routes. As the Charlotte metro area's population grew rapidly, the bus service operated by Charlotte Transit proved to be inadequate. In 1998, a Mecklenburg County referendum was approved by citizens that enacted a 0.5% sales tax increase to improve public transportation in the area. The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) was created as a result of the vote, leading to the consolidation of Charlotte Transit and the MTC in 2000 as the Charlotte Area Transit System, creating CATS as it is today.[6]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Charlotte_Area_Transit_Average_Daily_Ridership_All_Modes%2C_2002-2016.jpg/220px-Charlotte_Area_Transit_Average_Daily_Ridership_All_Modes%2C_2002-2016.jpg)
2000–2006: Early Years[]
After the founding of CATS, more express routes were added to the edges of Mecklenburg County and local bus service was expanded, especially to the fast-growing southern areas of Charlotte. Some commuter/express routes were also initiated outside Mecklenburg County. CATS also expanded bus infrastructure throughout the area during this period.[7] In 2005, CATS built three community transit bus centers to supplement the central Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown Charlotte. The centers were built in SouthPark (inside the SouthPark Mall parking facility), Eastland (at the old Eastland mall), and at Rosa Parks Place in the Wilson Heights neighborhood north of Uptown.[8] As a result of CATS' expansion during its early years, transit ridership in the Charlotte metropolitan area increased 55 percent,[9] largely due to the expansion of express bus services.[10]
2006–2015: The Advent of Rail[]
CATS chief Ron Tober began the planning process for what would become the LYNX Blue Line in the early 2000s.[11][12] Under Tober's leadership, the MTC adopted the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan in 2006.[13] The initial plan called for the "Red Line" commuter rail with service to Northern Mecklenburg County, the LYNX Blue Line, the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar, and a busway along the route of what is now planned to be the LYNX Silver Line. In 2007, the initial portion of the Blue Line opened, connecting the Uptown, South End, Scaleybark, Tyvola, and Arrowood neighborhoods.[14] The initial phase of the Blue Line spurred an explosion of development along the rail corridor, particularly in South End.[15] Shortly after the Blue Line opened, CEO Ron Tober, who had led CATS since its inception, retired.[16]
After Tober's departure, CATS hired Carolyn Flowers, who had previously headed the bus system in Los Angeles County.[17] During Flowers' tenure, the transit system pushed ahead with the CityLYNX Gold Line and LYNX Blue Line extension projects in the wake of the Great Recession. In 2014, Flowers resigned to take a Federal Transit Administration position.[18][19] John M. Lewis Jr. was then hired as the new head of the transit system.[20]
After the success of the LYNX Blue Line, CATS reversed course on its initial plans to expand bus service to Matthews and the airport, instead planning for a second light rail line, the LYNX Silver Line, that would travel southeast to Matthews and west to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River to Belmont.[21]
2015–present: Further Expansion[]
In 2015, the first phase of the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar opened.[22] The initial line connected the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown to Hawthorne Lane and 5th Street, through the First Ward and Cherry neighborhoods. The first phase of the Gold Line utilized retro trolley streetcars, while future phases will incorporate Siemens S70 streetcar vehicles.[23] The second phase of the Gold Line, construction of which is expected to wrap up in late 2020 or early 2021, will extend the existing line to Sunnyside Avenue in Plaza-Midwood and French Street by Johnson C. Smith University. In 2018, the Blue Line extension opened, connecting the existing Blue Line to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, connecting the University City, NoDa, Optimist Park, Plaza-Midwood, and Belmont neighborhoods.[24] The Red Line project, an integral piece of the 2030 System Plan, has run into significant headwinds due to disagreements with Norfolk Southern, which owns the tracks the Red Line was planned to operate on, and funding concerns.[25][26]
CATS is currently in the planning and design stages for the LYNX Silver Line, a multibillion-dollar east–west light rail line that will run from Matthews through Uptown Charlotte and west to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River to Belmont.[27] The line, projected to open in 2030, will connect to the Blue Line at 11th Street and the future intermodal Charlotte Gateway Station.[28]
Bus[]
CATS bus service primarily serves Mecklenburg County, with service in Charlotte, Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, Matthews, Pineville, and Mint Hill. Limited local and express service operated by CATS also extends to Iredell County, Gaston County, Union County, and York County, South Carolina.[29]
CATS operates local routes within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, with the majority of those multiple-stop routes serving the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown. Other routes that do not serve Uptown mainly connect directly between LYNX rail stations and outlying neighborhoods.[30] Three community transit centers in different parts of the city were built in the mid-2000s: the Eastland Community Transit Center in East Charlotte located near the now-closed Eastland Mall, the SouthPark Community Transit Center in South Charlotte located under SouthPark Mall, and the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center in North Charlotte located near Johnson C. Smith University.[31]
Express buses in the CATS system serve Union County, far northern Mecklenburg County, the Lake Norman area, Gastonia, and Rock Hill, South Carolina.[32]
CATS operates one bus rapid transit line, the Sprinter service from the CTC to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This center city to airport link will be replaced with the LYNX Silver Line upon its completion.
CATS also operates the Special Transportation Service (STS) which provides transportation to people with disabilities certified as eligible based on the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. STS provides service during the same times and in the same locations as the fixed route bus service.[33]
During a typical week, CATS buses carry about 190,000 riders.[34]
Active fleet[]
CATS operates with a fleet of 323 buses on 73 bus routes.[35][36]
Image | Builder and model name |
Fleet Series (Year Built) | Length | Engine source | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MCI D4000 |
501–510 (2001) | 40 ft (12 m) | Diesel |
| |
![]() |
MCI D4500CT |
1501–1502 (2016) 1503–1511 (2017) |
45 ft (14 m) | Diesel |
|
Gillig BRT (G27D102N4) |
961–968 (2007) 400–410 (2009) 1001–1020 (2009) 1021–1043 (2011) 1044–1071 (2012) 1072–1073 (2014) 1074–1083 (2015) 1087–1094 (2017) |
40 ft (12 m) | Diesel | ||
Gillig BRT HEV (G19D102N4) |
2501–2502 (2005) | 40 ft (12 m) | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
| |
![]() |
Gillig BRT HEV (G30D102N4) |
2901–2905 (2009) 2111–2116 (2011) 2117–2120 (2013) 1084–1086 (2017) 2121–2128 (2017) |
40 ft (12 m) | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
|
![]() |
Gillig BRT Plus |
1088–1096 (2018) 2129–2144 (2018) |
40 ft (12 m) | Diesel | |
Gillig BRT 29' (G27E102R2) |
630–636 (2006) 637–655 (2007) 656–658 (2009) 659–665 (2012) 667–669 (2012) |
29 ft (8.8 m) | Diesel |
| |
Gillig BRT HEV 29' (G30E102R2) |
670–675 (2013) 2670–2680 (2013) 676–680 (2014) |
29 ft (8.8 m) | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |
|
Rail[]
LYNX Blue Line[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Charlotte_LYNX_Average_Daily_Ridership_2007-2016.png/250px-Charlotte_LYNX_Average_Daily_Ridership_2007-2016.png)
On February 22, 2006, the Charlotte Area Transit System announced that its rapid rail lines will be developed under the "LYNX" system umbrella. The name fits in with the city's cat theme (the NFL team is the Carolina Panthers and the NBA team was known as the Charlotte Bobcats when the name was chosen); also, "Lynx" is a homophone of "links", and was mainly chosen because the light rail is about "connectivity."
The rapid rail cars are black, silver and blue. Gold will appear around the "Lynx" logo to tie in the history of the Charlotte region being home to the first major U.S. Gold Rush.
The original light rail system used 16 Siemens S70 train cars [37] acquired for $50 million.[38] In 2012, after 4 years of operation, the trains had to be repaired at the Siemens facility in California for an estimated cost of $400,000 each. The system is the only light rail system in the two Carolinas.
On November 24, 2007 the LYNX Blue Line opened. It runs 9.6 miles (15.5 km) between Uptown Charlotte and stops short of Pineville, using a railroad right-of-way largely paralleling South Boulevard. The line has 15 stations.[39] The 9.6 miles (15.4 km) line runs from its northern terminus in Uptown before traversing South End and traveling along South Boulevard to its southern terminus just north of Interstate 485 at the Pineville city limits.[39][40] It became the first major rapid rail service of any kind in North Carolina, and began operating seventy years after a previous Charlotte streetcar system was disbanded in 1938, in favor of motorized bus transit.[40][41]
A 9.4-mile (15.1 km) extension of the present 9.6-mile (15.4 km) segment, originally referred to as the "Northeast Corridor", added 11 stations between Uptown and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.[42] Originally, completion of the extension was estimated to cost $1.12 billion, including an additional 1.2-mile (1.9 km) of track and two stations north of UNC Charlotte, ending at I-485 just south of Cabarrus County. However, due to the effects of the late 2000s – early 2010s recession, CATS voted to shorten the line and reduce the cost to $977 million.
The extension was originally intended to carry an estimated 24,500 weekday boardings by 2035 and serves four park and ride stations.[43] City transportation and planning officials have predicted the new line could lead to the construction of 10,000 new housing units, as well as the development of nearly 4 million square feet of offices and 1.3 million square feet of retail space.[44] On July 18, 2013, the official groundbreaking took place near the 9th Street Station, with the mayor of Charlotte Patsy Kinsey, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory and other officials in attendance.[45] The extension opened on March 16, 2018.[46]
The Blue Line carries around 26,000–28,000 riders on an average weekday.[47]
CityLYNX Gold Line[]
The CityLYNX Gold Line is a 9.9-mile modern streetcar route currently in development that, when completed, will run from Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center through Uptown Charlotte and down Central Avenue, terminating at Eastland Community Transit Center. A Federal Urban Circulator Grant was awarded in July 2010, allowing construction of phase 1.[48][49]
A 1.5-mile (2.4 km) streetcar line, the first segment of the CityLYNX Gold Line, commenced service on July 14, 2015.[50] This section runs from the Charlotte Transportation Center / Arena station to Hawthorne Lane & 5th Street. The initial phase utilizes retro Birney trolley cars.
Phase 2 was scheduled to open in late 2020 but was postponed to 2021.[51] It will extend service to French Street in Biddleville and Sunnyside Avenue. Once phase 2 is completed, the trolley cars will be replaced with Siemens S70 streetcar vehicles.[23] Phase 3, which would extend service to Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center and Eastland Community Transit Center, is still in the planning stages.[52]
Future service[]
![A blue and gray train stopped at a covered, side platformed station with several passengers entering.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/LYNX_Stonewall_Station.jpg/200px-LYNX_Stonewall_Station.jpg)
Future expansion includes plans for light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit along the corridors in the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan adopted in 2006 by Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC).[53] On May 6, 2013, a 30-member transit funding task force released a draft report in which they estimated it would cost $3.3 billion to build the remaining transit corridors, and $1.7 billion to operate and maintain the lines through 2024. To fund the build-out by sales taxes alone would require a 0.78 cent increase in the sales tax, which would need to be approved by the state General Assembly. The committee recommended any sales tax increase be limited to 0.5 cent and other methods used to raise funds; some suggested methods included:
- Using the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TFIA) to quickly begin construction. TFIA loans could pay for 33% of the streetcar project and 30% of the rapid transit line along Independence Boulevard. It could allow CATS to begin collecting new property taxes from projects built along the rail line, which could be used to pay off the loans.
- Expanding advertising on train cars and buses, possibly selling naming rights and sponsorships.
- Entering into partnership with a private company to help finance part of the project.[54]
Although build-out of the entire system has been estimated for completion by 2030,[42] by July 2015, the Charlotte Area Transit System reported it lacked the funds to support any future transit projects apart from the already budgeted 2.5-mile long Phase 2 segment of the CityLYNX Gold Line.[55]
Under construction[]
CityLYNX Gold Line Extension[]
Two further segments of the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar line, totaling 8.4-mile (13.5 km), have been planned. Phase 2 will incorporate the use of 6 new Siemens S70 hybrid streetcars for $40&nbs[;million and will replace the green and yellow Gomaco replica vehicles used during Phase 1.[56] The CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 project began construction in January 2017 with revenue service beginning in August 2021.
When complete, the line will connect the University Park area of west Charlotte with Eastway Park area in east Charlotte by way of Uptown Charlotte, in a primarily east–west direction. The estimated completion for the line is in 2033.[57] CATS previously estimated that the completed route will have an average daily ridership of between 14,200 and 16,700 passengers by 2030.[58] Groundbreaking for the initial 1.5-mile (2.4 km) segment took place on December 12, 2012 in front of Presbyterian Hospital, with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Mayor Foxx and other officials in attendance.[59] The initial 1.5-mile (2.4 km) segment (Phase 1) between Time Warner Cable Arena and Presbyterian Hospital opened on July 14, 2015. A further 2.5-mile (4.0 km) segment (Phase 2) from the Charlotte Transportation Center/TWC Arena to French Street, and from Presbyterian Hospital to Hawthorne Lane has received funding. Construction of this segment is scheduled to begin by 2016, and to be open by late 2019.[60][61] The third and final phase between Hawthorne Lane and Eastland CTC, and from French Street to Rosa Parks CTC, is estimated to be complete in 2033.[57]
Proposed[]
Silver Line[]
The Silver Line is a proposed 13.5-mile (21.7 km) rapid transit corridor to be operated as bus rapid transit (BRT) (or possibly as a light rail line) between the CPCC Levine Campus in Matthews and the proposed Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte. Proposals call for it to be complete through Idlewild Road by 2022, Sardis Road North by 2024 and finally to CPCC Levine by 2026.[42] As aligned, the completed line will have 16 stations and be completed at an estimated cost of $582 million.[42] By October 2012, the MTC had decided in favor of a busway on interior lanes of the highway.[62] In May 2013, however, a 30-member funding task force suggested a light rail line for the proposed route, at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion.[54] So far, no definite plans to begin construction have been made.
West Corridor[]
The West Corridor is a proposed 6.4-mile (10.3 km) streetcar line, connecting Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in west Charlotte with Uptown Charlotte. Proposals call for completion by 2034.[42] With a completion date over two decades away, in 2008 CATS announced enhanced bus service along this corridor to serve as a placeholder until the line can be constructed.[63] Called Sprinter, the service began in September 2009 and features fewer stops and timing similar to that of the future streetcar route.[64]
Postponed[]
Red Line[]
The Red Line was a proposed 25-mile (40 km) commuter rail line. To be constructed along existing Norfolk Southern tracks, the line was intended to provide service to the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson in northern Mecklenburg County. The line was to be serviced by diesel multiple unit trains, and the southern terminus was the proposed Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte.[42] On October 17, 2012, the N.C. DOT, the Red Line Task Force, and CATS requested Norfolk Southern to conduct a study of the Red Line concept. As the Red Line would have utilized the NS O-Line between Charlotte and Mooresville, the study intended to determine if and how both freight and passenger services could use the same line while allowing normal freight services to continue. At a meeting of the task force on October 24, it was estimated the study could be initiated by late January 2013 and completed by early 2014, after which further feasibility studies and projections could be made.[65] On June 25, 2014, following the completion and release of the feasibility study, CATS officials said the Red Line would be too costly and complicated to build. Several reasons were provided, including:
- The continued refusal of Norfolk Southern to share its existing trackage with CATS, which would necessitate the construction of a railway line parallel to the NS rails. This would increase the overall project cost by $215 million and cause "multiple disruptions to adjacent communities", as building a parallel rail line would involve construction costs, right-of-way purchases, and the complete rebuilding of all road intersections along the proposed line.
- The project's ineligibility for federal funding due to low ridership projections.
- The inability of CATS to fund the Red Line on its own.
Despite the negative assessments of the feasibility study, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, including the Red Line task force, has not taken any official steps to disband the project.[66]
In July 2018, CATS suggested alternatives if the project was still not feasible. This was a series of meetings and surveys to get the opinion of the public about the line. In January 2019, CATS said that either a light rail or a commuter rail would be too expensive.[67] CATS, alternatively would run buses along the I-77 Express Lanes.
Former service[]
Charlotte Trolley[]
91 Charlotte Trolley operated within Uptown Charlotte from August 30, 1996 to June 28, 2010. The heritage trolley used vintage replica trolleys, serving 11 stations from Atherton Mill to 9th Street. Its operation was shared between the City of Charlotte and Charlotte Trolley Inc., a non-profit organization. The successes of the trolley led to the LYNX Blue Line light rail along the same right-of-way.
Ridership data[]
Year | Passenger trips |
---|---|
2019 | 24,278,653[68] |
2018 | 22,516,607[69] |
2017 | 24,985,270[70] |
2016 | 26,248,940[71] |
2015 | 27,165,943[72] |
2014 | 29,438,356[73] |
2013 | 28,712,105[74] |
2010 | 24,355,191 |
2009 | 26,034,078 |
2008 | 23,199,350 |
2007 | 19,757,737 |
2006 | 19,156,590 |
2005 | 17,773,753 |
2004 | 20,875,635 |
2003 | 18,888,550 |
2002 | 16,587,199 |
2001 | 14,182,463[75] |
2000 | 13,464,745[75] |
- 1997–2005: Service Consumption Versus Costs: (costs adjusted for inflation at 3.5% per year)
- Ridership (unlinked trips): +52%
- Operational cost per passenger trip: +66%
- Operational cost per vehicle mile: +6%
- Operational cost per vehicle hour: +16%
Source: CATS 2010 Annual Report, National Transit Database'
References[]
- ^ Spanberg, Erik. "CATS to cut back on service as ridership plummets during pandemic". Charlotte Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "MTC". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Del Pino, Oscar (August 16, 1995). "Clang, clang go the trolleys". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C.
- ^ Peralta, Katie; Hopkins, Paige. "Coronavirus dealt an $8 million blow to mass transit in Charlotte. Can it bounce back?". Charlotte Agenda.
- ^ http://sbcglobalpwp.att.net/w/i/willvdv/aatncclt.html
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2009-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Building Permits". The Charlotte Observer Archives. McClatchy. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Invitation to Bid". The Charlotte Observer. 22 December 2005. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (14 June 2009). "Suburban streets get big increase in traffic". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Rubin, Richard (21 August 2006). McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer https://charlotteobserver.newspapers.com/image/645843112. Retrieved 9 June 2020. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ^ "Light-rail: Higher prices, later arrival". The Charlotte Observer Archives. McClatchy. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (28 September 2003). "Making tracks". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "2030 Transit Corridor System Plan". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "2030 Transit Corridor System Plan". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Smith, Doug. "Light rail draws development to South End". The Charlotte Observer Archives. McClatchy. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (21 December 2007). "Leaving the job, but not for his love of Lynx". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (17 November 2009). "City names next transit chief". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Muth named interim director of CATS". Charlotte Area Transit System. December 18, 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (December 8, 2014). "Carolyn Flowers leaving CATS for federal appointment". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "John Lewis Jr. will be the new CATS executive director". www.qcitymetro.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
- ^ Johnston, Melinda (12 July 2015). "Plans for rail route in South Charlotte". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (12 July 2015). "City envisions network of lines". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (16 March 2018). "CATS wants more rail lines, but who will pay for them?". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (24 March 2018). "Lake Norman train faces critical vote next week". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Henderson, Bruce (28 January 2020). "Northern commuter rail is stymied by impasse over rarely used tracks". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Hodges, David (12 November 2019). "City Council approves $50 million LYNX Silver Line design contract". WBTV. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Planning – Silver Line". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Charlotte Riders' Guide" (PDF). Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Charlotte Riders' Guide" (PDF). Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/Bus/Pages/transitcenters.aspx
- ^ "Charlotte Riders' Guide" (PDF). Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Riding Para-Transit". Charlotte Area Transit System. City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Erik, Spanberg. "CATS to cut back on service as ridership plummets during pandemic". Charlotte Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Charlotte Area Transit System – Fast Facts". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, John (November 13, 2018). "State of Alternative Bus Fleet Fuels" (PDF). City of Charlotte. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- ^ "Siemens S70 Data Sheet" (PDF).
- ^ "Repairs for LYNX trains to cost $6.5M". Charlotte, NC: WSOC-TV. January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Harrison, Steve (November 24, 2007). "A momentous arrival: After opening-day hoopla, what's ahead for Lynx?". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "LYNX Blue Line South Corridor Light Rail Project Description". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
- ^ Rhee, Foon (January 19, 1988). "Is a light rail system in Charlotte's future?". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Destination 2030". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved 25 Jun 2007.
- ^ "Blue Line Extension Fact Sheet" (PDF).
- ^ Frazier, Eric (August 30, 2014). "Dirt moving for light rail to UNCC – raising high hopes for development". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Haggerty, Neil (July 18, 2013). "LYNX Blue Line light rail extension breaks ground". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ "Charlotte announces opening date for light rail expansion". The News & Observer. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ Harrison, Steve. "Charlotte has had large losses in transit ridership". The Charlotte Observer. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ McMillan, Therese (14 July 2015). "Striking Gold in Charlotte". U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ Harrison, Steve; Portillo, Ely (14 July 2015). "Charlotte streetcar begins service on 1.5-mile run". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ Harrison, Portillo, Steve, Ely (July 14, 2015). "Anthony Foxx gives passionate speech to open streetcar; service starts at 1 p.m.". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ "CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2: Update for June 19, 2020". City of Charlotte. June 19, 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Harrison, Steve; Portillo, Ely. "Charlotte's Gold Line streetcar shimmers on first run". McClatchy. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "2030 Transit Corridor System Plan". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 18 Jun 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Harrison, Steve (6 May 2013). "Group suggests new transit tax, private help". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (14 July 2015). "New CATS chief in funding jam". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ "Construction and vehicle contracts awarded for CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 project". November 29, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bruno, Joe (28 June 2021). "Cost increased and timeline pushed back for light rail expansion in Charlotte". WSOC-TV 9. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ Rubin, Richard (June 29, 2006). "City eyes east-west streetcar". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 4B.
- ^ Bethea, April (12 Dec 2012). "Despite uncertain future, Charlotte breaks ground on streetcar". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ CityLynx Gold Line Fact Sheet: July 2013
- ^ CityLynx Gold Line Update: May 2014
- ^ Harrison, Steve (15 Oct 2012). "Light-rail extension moves to fast track; CATS to announce federal funding for uptown-to-UNCC line". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Sullivan, Karen (25 May 2008). "Bus to airport may improve". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (14 Sep 2009). "Will Uptown workers fly out via Sprinter?". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Light Rail Task Force Agenda – Summary, October 24, 2012
- ^ Harrison, Steve (June 26, 2014). "Charlotte commuter train price jumps by $215M". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Vieser, Dave (February 18, 2019). "The Red Line is the Dead Line". Business Today.
- ^ "2019 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2018 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2017 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2016 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2015 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2014 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ "2013 Annual Agency Profile" (PDF). Charlotte County Government dba Charlotte County Transit Division.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "CATS 2002 Annual Report" (PDF). CATS. 2002. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
External links[]
Media related to Charlotte Area Transit System at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- 2003 Consolidated Income and Expenses
- 2004 Consolidated Income and Expenses
- Charlotte Area Transit System
- Transportation in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Bus transportation in North Carolina
- Passenger rail transportation in North Carolina
- RATP Group
- Intermodal transportation authorities in North Carolina