Latest news with #MetropolitanTransitCommission
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CATS board approves transit plan with expanded rail service, ‘better bus' program
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Local leaders voted Wednesday to adopt the updated mass transit plan around Mecklenburg County that includes expanded rail and an innovative bus system. Members of the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which governs the Charlotte Area Transit System, approved the plan, with only Matthews Mayor John Higdon in opposition. The plan provides a 50% increase in bus service and 43 more miles of rail services. Officials detail plans to improve Mecklenburg County bus stops, but they need a one-cent sales tax to do it The updated plan includes the prioritization of the Better Bus program, inclusive of recently launched microtransit, along with phased implementation of the rapid transit corridors. 'This bus program is not the one you know,' Mecklenburg County Commissioner Leigh Altman said. 'This bus program will expand service to 450,000 residents across the county. It really is pretty amazing compared to what we have now. This is just a tremendous difference.' The funding for the plan is contingent on a county-wide 1-cent sales tax increase. State legislation is in the works for a referendum to be placed on the ballot in November. The decision to approve this plan comes after nearly half a year of extensive public engagement with stakeholders, residents and riders across Mecklenburg County. The Rapid Transit Corridor System plan includes: Red Line commuter rail from Charlotte Gateway Station to Mount Mourne. Silver Line light rail from the airport to Bojangles Coliseum. Gold Line streetcar extension from Rosa Parks Place to Eastland Transit Center. Blue Line light rail extension from South Boulevard at I-485 to Carolina Place Mall. The plan references proposed future extensions for Silver Line west to I-485 and east to Matthews, and Blue Line to Ballantyne, as funding allows. Those routes would have enhanced bus in the interim. 'We have to think about the growth we have, the economic opportunities and new jobs all this can create and the safety we can have because of this,' Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said. 'I know it's been terribly long time since we've had the ability to start thinking about this. But at the end of the day, we will figure this out in a way that makes sure every person inside Mecklenburg County feels like they've gained something as a result of a one-cent sales tax. It's absolutely essential to bring forward all the people we know are asked to support this program.' Higdon has been vocal about Silver Line not extending through east Charlotte and into Matthews, since those plans were altered last spring. In addition to saying his town 'is getting the shaft,' he's noted that the economic impacts of bus service pale in comparison to those with light rail, like seen along the Blue Line. 'Despite my multiple pleadings to their MTC for over a year, there have been zero attempts made to compromise with Matthews in anyway whatsoever on the plan,' he said. 'Under this plan light rail passengers will need to travel 7 miles outside of town to access the closest station.' CATS says most of the bus program will be implemented in the next five to 10 years. Riders can expect to see improved amenities, better frequency and additional microtransit zones within that period. 'This significantly different, game-changing bus service can be implemented … it really is an entirely different kind of service that would give immediate relief to residents who don't have ability to get from point A to point B and want to get our of their cars.' Davidson town leaders have said that the best-case scenario for the Red Line to completed is eight to 10 years. However, developers are already planning for stations in the north Mecklenburg area. The proposed sales-tax referendum also would dismantle the MTC, creating a new transit authority that includes state and local representation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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.
