IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496                  

FEBRUARY MARKS CATS' HIGHEST RIDERSHIP MONTH IN OVER 58 YEARS

Charlotte, N.C., March 18, 2008 - The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) experienced its highest single month ridership in over 58 years in February when customers took more than 2 million trips on its services; an average of 79,000 daily rides.  Not since the late 1940's has ridership surpassed 2 million in a month.  "Residents and visitors have learned that riding CATS is an easy and affordable way to get around the Charlotte region and they're choosing to park their cars and ride CATS," said Keith Parker, CATS' Chief Executive Officer.

Ridership for the month of February increased 34.4 percent across all services compared to February 2007.  During the month, ridership on regular bus services increased 8.8 percent with significant increases on express and regional express routes; some with increases as high as 50 and 70 percent.  Significant increases were also seen on community circulators, which experienced a double-digit increase for the month.  Vanpools, with a mix of minivans and 15-passenger vans, also had an increase for the month.

In its third month of service, the LYNX Blue Line transported more than 387,000 riders with weekday ridership averaging over 14,000; a 35 percent increase over the projected average first-year daily ridership of 9,100.  Contributing to the LYNX's high February ridership were the large numbers of commuters responding to the soaring gasoline prices, as well as visitors who rode during the CIAA Tournament, held February 25 to March 1.  In total, more than 80,000 trips by commuters and CIAA attendees were taken on the LYNX during that week.

Preliminary numbers for March indicate  that the last day of the CIAA Tournament, Saturday, March 1, generated 31,500 trips on the LYNX; marking its highest Saturday ridership ever.  Also, early estimates indicate that commuters and visitors took more than 90,000 trips on the LYNX during the ACC Tournament, held March 13-16.

"It's great to see the community embracing public transportation as a choice to commute, attend events or just visit friends," said Parker.  "We are constantly improving services to make commuting more convenient for residents and visitors.  We're pleased to see that the citizens are responding to the investments made in public transportation."

For more information on CATS and its services call (704) 336-RIDE or visit www.ridetransit.org.

With 63,000 daily commuters, expanded services, improved bus shelters, new transit centers and services for people with disabilities, investments in transit is attracting more and more people to ride CATS. These are just a few of the ways the half-cent sales tax keeps the whole Charlotte region moving forward.  For more information on CATS visit ridetransit.org.