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

CATS MAKES SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS TO BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS

Charlotte, N.C., May 30, 2008 - Beginning Monday, June 2, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will make changes to several of its routes to better serve customers.  "With the cost of gas and living skyrocketing, people are looking for convenient ways to save money and many of them are turning to CATS," said Jim Zingale, Chief Operating Officer of CATS.  "We're seeing huge increases in ridership and wefre making these service enhancements to accommodate that growth, while making it easier for commuters to ride."  In April, CATS'  ridership increased 28.4 percent across all services, resulting in a 14.7 percent increase in ridership compared to the same time last year.
 
In just six months of operation, ridership on the LYNX Blue Line has surpassed 1.9 million riders, with large numbers of people riding on the weekends, prompting CATS to increase the frequency of Saturday and Sunday midday service to every 15 minutes. 
 
Also, CATS will add an extra morning and afternoon trip to the 80X Concord Express to accommodate its growing ridership, which increased 44.5 percent in April.
 
"Ridership has increased across all services, but the LYNX and 80X have experienced particularly high ridership," said Zingale. 
 
Other major service enhancements taking place June 2 include changes to:

• Route 42 Carowinds Boulevard: The routing for the Southpoint Business Park trips will be modified to serve Polk Street and Highway 51 to Carowinds Boulevard.  These trips will no longer utilize I-485 and I-77 to Carowinds Boulevard.  This change will provide better access to businesses along Highway 51 in Pineville.
• Route 51X Idlewild Road Express: The Route 51X will be extended along Idlewild Road to Margaret Wallace Road.  Service on Valley Grove Road and Wiseman Drive will no longer be provided.
• Route 56 Arrowood:  An early morning inbound weekday trip will be extended to the Rivergate Shopping Center.
• Route 60 Tyvola/SouthPark: Two morning and afternoon trips will be extended to the LakePointe Corporate Center at Tyvola Road and Perimeter Pointe Parkway.  The Beam Road trip times have been adjusted to coordinate with the new LakePointe Corporate Center trips.

For a complete list of service changes taking place on June 2, visit the "Route Change" section on www.ridetransit.org or call (704) 336-RIDE.