IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brooks Newkirk (704) 432-2549
Jean Leier (704) 432-0496
CATS BREAKS RIDERSHIP RECORD FOR TENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Charlotte, N.C., July 16, 2008 - For the tenth consecutive year, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) shattered ridership records as new and expanded services were added and commuters looked for alternatives to rising gas prices. CATS ended fiscal year 2008 strong with a 17.4 percent ridership increase; up 96.3 percent since FY1998. "The ridership growth we experienced in FY08 was tremendous," said Keith Parker, CATS' Chief Executive Officer. "Commuters made over 23 million trips on our services, resulting in an average weekday ridership of 88,502. Public transportation in Charlotte hasn't experienced this type of growth since the 1940s."
The addition of the LYNX Blue Line to CATS' network of services played a major role in FY08's ridership increase. The new light rail line opened to huge crowds in November and within days of its opening it exceeded its first year average daily ridership estimate of 9,100. By the end of FY08, and after being in operation only seven months, more than 2.8 million trips were taken on the LYNX Blue Line, resulting in an average weekday ridership of 14,147; 55 percent over the estimated 9,100 daily riders.
"It is great to see the community embracing the LYNX Blue Line. This is a service we built for the community, with their input, and we're glad that they are riding and finding that it fits their travel needs," said Parker. "We expected to have full trains during rush hours, but it is really surprising to see full trains throughout the day, especially during midday hours."
While ridership on the LYNX was booming, there was also growth on other services throughout the year. Regional express routes, which serve six counties surrounding Charlotte, experienced the largest ridership growth with an increase of 17.3 percent since last fiscal year, while ridership on local and express routes increased 1.7 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively. Vanpool's ridership increased 2.4 percent. Ridership on Special Transportation Services (STS) grew 2.8 percent and Community Circulators experienced an 18.1 percent ridership increase. There was a decline in ridership on the Gold Rush service, which dropped 1.2 percent due to customers using the LYNX Blue Line, and the Department of Social Services transportation service declined 43 percent due to amendments to State Medicaid regulations.
"The huge ridership increase we experienced is further proof that the public made a wise decision by investing in public transportation," said Parker. "Public transportation is particularly important at this time as gas prices continue to soar and our region works to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality standards. Riding CATS is affordable, environmentally-friendly and less stressful than driving and more and more commuters are learning that and turning to us."
For more information about CATS and its services, log on to www.ridetransit.org or call 704-336-RIDE.
