Three years ago, CATS started the process to lengthen the old stations so they could handle longer trains. The city spent roughly $17 million lengthening four stations, leaving 11 more stations to be lengthened a few at a time.
Plans to begin testing the app in the spring, and hopes it will make it easier for it to partner with rideshare companies like Uber on so-called “first mile/last mile” trips.
The second phase of the 2.5-mile expansion will improve circulation and transit connections; support economic revitalization; provide access from economically diverse neighborhoods to Uptown Charlotte; and more.
Goals of the "Ladders of Opportunity" pilot were to build and restore transportation connections, develop workforce capacity, and catalyze neighborhood revitalization in Atlanta; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, La.; Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis; Phoenix; and Richmond, Va.
Ten years ago, the agency had a general concept of building a streetcar along Wilkinson Boulevard toward the city's airport, but CATS CEO John Lewis wants a more detailed study to determine whether that’s the best option.
The city had hoped to award the contract earlier this year, but the two bids received exceeded the city’s budget for construction work — one by more than 30% and one by nearly 40% — before the city found a firm that could meet its budget.
The agency has offered the discount on 10-ride passes for several years, but the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which oversees operations, voted in April to eliminate the discount beginning July 1.
Lewis is leading the agency through a significant stage of growth to construct the LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension and advance the CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 streetcar through final design and into construction.
The Charlotte Area Transit System, the largest transit system between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., operates over 316 buses on over 70 local, express and regional bus routes. Providing over 25 million customer trips each year, CATS has added light rail and streetcar service, which has increased ridership exponentially.
Nowadays, there’s an app for everything. Very few of those apps can turn an everyday transit rider into a hero who summons help for a person in distress. A routine ride on your transit system can be suddenly disrupted if you witness an assault, a crime in progress or a medical emergency. That is why apps designed for public safety must take all imaginable scenarios into consideration.