Latest news with #CharlotteAreaTransitSystem
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
CATS to provide free transportation to PGA Championship
The Charlotte Area Transit System will provide free transportation to the PGA Championship this week. Golfers tee off on Monday at Quail Hollow for the first time since 2017. And this year, CATS will provide free transportation through the Blue Line station at the Sharon Road West Park and Ride. Advertisement CATS will also offer bus services between Sharon Road West Park and Ride and Quail Hollow. READ: The Political Beat gets an inside look at Quail Hollow Golf Club before PGA Championship Officials say rides taken on CATS services on Monday will be complimentary with a digital PGA ticket. In addition to free rides, the CATS Blue Line will operate more frequently between the Uptown and I-485 stations. Due to increased passenger traffic, the Sharon Road West Park and Ride will be closed from Monday to Saturday. CATS said it encourages customers to use the I-485/South Blvd Station, Arrowood, Archdale, Tyvola, Woodlawn, Sugar Creek, Old Concord Road, University City Blvd, or JW Clay Park and Ride stations. WATCH: The Political Beat gets an inside look at Quail Hollow Golf Club before PGA Championship
Axios
08-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
"F*** THE BUS. WE WANT TRAINS:" Charlotteans shut down bus rapid transit plans
The results are in: Charlotte doesn't want bus rapid transit (BRT). Why it matters: City leaders are trying to draft a transit plan desirable enough to persuade voters to pass a 1-cent sales tax increase to fund the projects. But based on public feedback, it seems engaged residents overwhelmingly view any plan that prioritizes bus rapid transit as a waste of money. Context: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) leaders have promoted the advantages of BRT for months, describing it as an enhanced version of the city bus with faster boarding, signal priority and, in some cases, dedicated lanes to bypass traffic. It's also cheaper than rail, by about 30-50%, according to CATS. So Charlotte could build more transit infrastructure, faster, while reaching more corners of the city. Yes, but: There are no "gold-standard" examples of BRT in the U.S. Even Cleveland's system, once known as the best BRT line in North America, is struggling with efficiency and has seen ridership fall accordingly. Many are skeptical that Charlotte would be the first American city to do it well. Zoom out: Raleigh is also pursuing BRT, but when it last solicited bids, it got no responses. Driving the news: Based on public survey responses, CATS staff has advised that the local transit board move forward with a rail-focused plan and scrap all bus rapid transit proposals. Catch up quick: The board, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), has been looking at four potential scenarios for spending an estimated $19.4 billion from the potential sales tax revenue, plus $5.9 billion more in matching federal grants. Two scenarios pitch building the entire Silver Line, from I-485 to Matthews, as bus rapid transit instead of rail. The most favored option, based on the survey, builds the most rail: the Red Line commuter rail built in full, the Gold Line streetcar extended, the Silver Line built as light rail from the airport station to Bojangles Coliseum, and the Blue Line extended as light rail to Pineville. All four scenarios include $3.8 billion to improve the existing bus system, from upping frequencies to installing new benches. What they're saying: Axios reviewed 1,065 responses to CATS' survey prompt: "Tell us what you think about the alternative program scenarios for the Transit System Plan." Below are some of the hottest takes about BRT versus rail. Quotes are edited slightly for grammar and clarity. Any scenario that relies on "Bus Rapid Transit" is making the choice to keep Charlotte area transportation in the 1950s. The average American will not ride a bus as an alternative to their car. We need to get cars off the road and to do that we need rail. RBT is a waste of money. In general, I'm not sure you're going to get South Charlotteans to ride buses. Even if it is BRT. It's a perception thing. Bus routes can change and that discourages real development along the route. I am worried that a BRT line to Matthews would lock us out of a future light rail extension to Monroe and Union County as a whole, which is rapidly developing. (Scenario 1) would make Charlotte a destination city that can be taken seriously because of the ability to ride rail examples of true rail systems are Washington, D.C., Boston, etc. We can join this echelon of cities only by choosing rail first. Don't be held hostage by bad decisions from the GOP. Grow a pair, Charlotte, you're the largest city between Atlanta and DC- it's time to act like it. If Silver Line will terminate at Bojangles, there needs to be strong investment in bike/ped and bus infrastructure to make that area accessible and easy to use The most important thing is to actually build something and not just talk about it forever. Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's Bus Rapid Transit. Too, too often that is a term bandied about to inflate the perceived significance of inferior service. I've been to good BRT systems (i.e. Ottawa for example) and they can work well if done right. But that includes the ability to convert to rail over time. People in Charlotte have no idea what a BRT is, so would require a huge education effort. And BRT would have to be done right, which I don't trust CATS to do. Scenarios 2 and 4 are atrocious. Having a "single" line be a combination of light rail and bus is such a dumb idea that only Charlotte could consider it feasible. Bus Rapid Transit is the poorest choice due to skyrocketing capacity and labor cost issues if the system grows. Wasting time and money on bus rapid transit lanes will only slow CLT's progress to become a great city designed for people vs roads and cars. F*** THE BUS. WE WANT TRAINS TO THE AIRPORT, TRAINS TO GASTONIA WOULD BE NICE, TRAINS TO MATTHEWS TOO. NO BUS, NO CARS. WE WANT AND NEED TRAINS, ARE YOU GUYS OUT DRIVING AND SEEING THIS MESS TOO? Scenario 1 is the pie in the sky and would be amazing. I think scenario 2 gives the best combo of money saving and service to the communities. I've taken the light rail, but under no circumstances will I ever, ever take a city bus. I'd walk first. What's next: The MTC will vote in May to adopt a transit system plan, which it will then present to voters in hopes they'll pass a penny sales tax increase to execute the vision.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Heavy police presence spotted after car crashes into light rail crossing in north Charlotte
A heavy police presence was spotted in north Charlotte after a car crashed into a light rail crossing arm Tuesday afternoon. It happened just before 3 p.m. at the intersection of North Tryon Street and Tom Hunter Road, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Chopper 9 Skyzoom captured a vehicle that appeared to have heavy front-end damage. The crossing arm at the Tom Hunter Station appeared to be knocked over by the vehicle. The Charlotte Area Transit System said its crews are working to set up barricades and detour signs in the area. ALSO READ: CMPD identifies man hit, killed by train in southwest Charlotte No injuries have been reported, according to MEDIC. This is a developing story. Check back with for updates.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
CATS to shut down light rail, Gold Line for maintenance in late April
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The light rail and streetcar lines will be temporarily closed for regular maintenance later this month. The Charlotte Area Transit System announced that they will suspend Blue Line and Gold Line service from 2 a.m. Saturday, April 26, to 4 a.m. Monday, April 28. The rail lines will resume at 5 a.m. on April 28. CATS leaders set to wrap up public meetings in the west corridor CATS has performed this maintenance in June in recent years. The agency says rail shutdowns are a common practice within the transit industry and are essential for maintaining the quality and safety of its rail alignments. During this period, bus bridges will replace rail service. Information boards at stations will direct riders to bus bridge stops, which will be marked with Connector signs. Buses will also display 'Bus Bridge' for easy identification. For detailed bus bridge locations, visit Learn more about CATS' maintenance goals here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
