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Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496                  

CATS INTRODUCES BUS INTEGRATION PLAN TO MAKE CONNECTING TO LYNX BLUE LINE EASY FOR CUSTOMERS

Plan includes adding 14 new routes and changes to existing routes

Charlotte, N.C., November 14, 2007 ─  On Monday, November 26, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will introduce 14 new routes and make changes to several of its existing routes to connect customers to the new LYNX Blue Line.  “The bus/rail integration plan will help customers make direct connections from the LYNX Blue Line to bus services with ease,” said Jim Zingale, CATS Chief Operating Officer.  “Customers can get where they want to go faster because they’ll no longer have to go to Center City to make cross-town connections.  They can just connect from any LYNX station to where they want to go.”       
  
The new routes that will be added to CATS’ network on November 26 are as follows:

• Route 20 Sharon Road: Route 20 Queens Road will be renamed Route 20 Sharon Road.  This new route will be extended to Carolina Place Mall and remain on Sharon Road with limited stops between Sharon Road, Fairview Road and Center City during rush hours.

• Route 24 Nations Ford Road: Route 24 Windsong Trails is now the new Route 24 Nations Ford Road.  This route will serve Nations Ford Road and connect to LYNX stations at Woodlawn and Arrowood.

• Route 30 Woodlawn Crosstown: Route 30 Crosstown has a new name.  It’s now Route 30 Woodlawn Crosstown.  This route will connect to the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center and the LYNX Woodlawn Station.

• Route 36 Midtown: Route 236 Revolution Park becomes the new Route 36 Midtown.  This route will provide service to Carolina Medical Center, Midtown and Presbyterian Hospital and connect to the LYNX Woodlawn and East/West Boulevard stations.

• Route 41X Steele Creek Express: Route 41X Arrowood Road is changing to the 41X Steele Creek Express.  This route will serve the Steele Creek Road and Tryon Street area.

• Route 42 Carowinds Boulevard: Route 42 Carowinds Blvd will provide service to the LYNX I-485 Station and surrounding areas, including the Southpoint Business Park.  There will also be seasonal service to Carowinds.

• Route 43 Ballantyne: Route 43 Ballantyne will operate from the LYNX Sharon Road West Station to Ballantyne via Park Road and Johnston Road.

• Route 44 Fort Mill: Route 44 Fort Mill will provide service along Nations Ford Road between the LYNX Arrowood Road Station and Wells Fargo in Fort Mill.

• Route 55 Westinghouse: Route 55 Westinghouse will operate between Westlake Business Park and the LYNX station at Sharon Road West.  This route will replace the Arrowood Shuttle.

• Route 56 Arrowood: Route 56 Arrowood will provide service to the LYNX Arrowood Station.  It will serve Whitehall Commons, Crossroads Distribution Center, Commerce Business Park and Rivergate Shopping Center, as well as the CPCC Harper Campus.

• Route 57 Archdale/SouthPark: Route 57 Archdale/SouthPark will connect to the LYNX Archdale Station.  Service will be provided to SouthPark Mall, Park South Drive and to the apartment complexes in the Farmhurst area. 

• Route 58 Pineville: Route 58 Pineville is replacing Route 12 South Boulevard.  It will provide service to the LYNX I-485 Station and Carolina Place Mall. 

• Route 59 Scaleybark/Marsh: Route 59 Scaleybark/Marsh will run from the LYNX New Bern Station to the Scaleybark Station.  It will provide service to Park Road Shopping Center and along Marsh Road.

• Route 60 Tyvola/SouthPark: Route 60 Tyvola/SouthPark will provide service between Boulevard Homes and SouthPark and along Tyvola Road connecting customers to the LYNX Tyvola Station.  There will be limited trips to Beam Road. 

Changes will also be made to several of CATS’ existing bus routes on November 26 including routes 82X Rock Hill Express, 10 West Boulevard, 12 South Boulevard and 16 South Tryon to better connect customers to destinations throughout the region.

"With these changes and the introduction of the LYNX Blue Line, we’re making it more convenient for our customers to travel by giving them more commuting options,” Zingale said.  

The public will have the opportunity to ride the LYNX Blue Line for free during its opening weekend, November 24-25.  Revenue service will begin Monday, November 26.  Trains will operate seven days a week from I-485 at South Boulevard to Center City. Service frequency will be every 7.5 minutes during the weekday rush hour and every 15 minutes during non-peak hours. Weekend service will be 20 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during non-peak hours. Train fare is the same as local bus fare, $1.30. Passengers with a weekly or monthly pass can ride the train at no additional cost. Customers riding the bus and paying cash fare may ask the bus operator for a transfer. The transfer is valid on the train as long as it is used within the time printed on the back.
 
For a list of all the changes, as well as schedule information, visit CATS’ website at www.ridetransit.org.  Scroll down until you see the “Transit Planning” icon on the right side of the page and click on “Bus/Rail Integration Plan.”  The information is available in English and Spanish.

With 63,000 daily commuters, expanded services, improved bus shelters, new transit centers and services for the disabled, transit is attracting more and more people to get out of their cars and ride CATS. These are just a few of the ways CATS keeps the whole Charlotte region moving forward.  For more information on commuting choices, visit ridetransit.org.