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Contact:  Jean Leier (704) 432-0496

CATS RIDERSHIP AHEAD OF NATIONAL AVERAGE COMPARED TO TRANSIT SYSTEMS SIMILAR IN SIZE

Americans Take More Than 10 Billion Trips on Public Transportation for the First Time in Almost Fifty Years

Charlotte, N.C., March 20, 2007 - If you thought you were seeing more riders aboard Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses during your daily commute, it's not your imagination.  The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) just announced Americans took 10.1 billion trips on public transportation nationwide in 2006 – the most in 49 years.  Over the last decade, public transportation's growth rate outpaced the growth rate of the population and the growth rate of vehicle miles traveled on our nation's highways. 

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) saw an increase in overall ridership of 4 percent from calendar year 2005 to 2006.  That's one-third times more than the national average of bus-only systems that are comparable in size to Charlotte.  Regional express routes grew by 22.3 percent and community circulator ridership increased by 15.8 percent.  Commuters taking vanpools to work jumped 17 percent.

"Reaching this milestone is a result of the quality of service we provide in helping people get to destinations important to them," said Jim Zingale, CATS Chief Operating Officer. 

"In addition, many riders realize the benefits of saving money from rising fuel and parking costs. Our customers enjoy having commuting choices over sitting in their cars in congested traffic. " 

Nationally, public transit use is up 30 percent since 1995.  That is more than double the growth rate of the population (12 percent) and higher than the growth rate for the vehicle miles traveled on our roads (24 percent) during that same period.  In 2006, public transit ridership grew 2.9 percent over 2005.  To put the 10.1 billion public transportation trips in perspective, transit trips outnumber domestic airline trips by 15 to one.    "Public transportation is a proven way to meet our national, regional and local transportation goals," Zingale said. 
 
To learn more about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or visit us on the web at www.ridetransit.org.