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

CHARLOTTE TROLLEY SERVICE BACK ON TRACK

Charlotte, N.C., April 17, 2008 - Get ready to see the color green on the streets of Charlotte once again.  Join Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory, Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission Jennifer Roberts, Charlotte City Council District 1 Representative Patsy Kinsey, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Chief Executive Officer Keith Parker, Historic South End Director James Mathis and Charlotte Trolley Inc. President Ambrose Dittloff as they restart service of the Charlotte Trolley Line at Atherton Mill, located at 2104 South Boulevard.   Festivities kick off at 1 p.m. and will run until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 20.  The public will be able to ride the trolley for free during these hours.

“We are excited to bring another form of transportation back to Charlotte.  Customers will now have more options when they are traveling between Historic South End and Center City,” said Keith Parker, CATS’ Chief Executive Officer.  “The Charlotte Trolley will run on weekends only for a period of time as we integrate this service into the LYNX Blue Line schedule.”  

*Service on opening day will operate from Atherton Mill to Ninth Street with no stops in between.  Attendees can ride the LYNX Blue Line to the East/West Station and a shuttle will take you to Atherton Mill.  Or you can park in Center City or Atherton Mill to catch the trolley.
 
The trolley line runs approximately 2.1 miles.  Saturday trolley service will operate from 10 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  On Sunday the trolley will run from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Trolleys will run every hour on weekends.  Fare for the trolley is $1.30.  Children in grades K-12 with a valid student or transit ID, people with disabilities and customers 62 years and older with a transit ID or Medicare card can ride for 65 cents.  Children 5-years-old or younger ride for free and must be accompanied by an adult.

Riders can purchase passes from the Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), pay exact fare aboard the trolley or use a bus transfer.  Weekly and monthly passes can also be used on the trolley.  Ten-ride passes are not valid on the trolley line.  To learn more about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or visit us on the web at www.ridetransit.org.