Charlotte's new light rail extension increases rail ridership by 48%

The Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) LYNX Blue Line light rail service experienced a 48% increase in ridership with the opening of its recent extension. Service for the extension of the LYNX Blue Line began March 16 and contributed to the increase in rail ridership along with contributing to a 6% year-to-date increase in light rail ridership over the previous year.

The new extension is 9.3 miles and connects center city Charlotte through NoDA and North Tryon Street communities to the campus of UNC Charlotte.

“These ridership numbers demonstrates the community’s acceptance and desire for increased transit options as an alternative to traffic congestion,” said John Lewis, CEO of CATS. “CATS continues our commitment to enhancing transit services in the region and look forward to expanding transit options in the future.”

With the opening of the extension, the LYNX Blue Line now connects one side of Charlotte to the other.

“The extension of the LYNX Blue line is a great asset to our community and region, connecting people with opportunities, to jobs, higher education and more mobility options,” said Vi Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte.

Along with the 48% increase in overall rail ridership, average weekday ridership on light rail saw a 38% increase compared with March 2017, at 20,453 passenger trips, and average Saturdays saw a spike of 107%; illustrating that overall ridership growth occurred across all days of the week with the addition of the extension.