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

CATS NOVEMBER RIDERSHIP SEES DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASE

Charlotte, N.C., December 21, 2007 - The start of the LYNX Blue Line and high gas prices assisted the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in a 14.6 percent ridership increase for November 2007.  "Commuters are tired of the pain at the pump and congested highways so they are turning to CATS as an alternative," said Jim Zingale, CATS' Chief Operating Officer.  "We continue to see more commuters who have a choice of transportation choices choose CATS."

During the month of November, regional express bus service and community circulators both experienced double-digit increases of 15 percent and 21.3 percent, respectively.  Ridership on local bus services increased 4.3 percent.  The opening of the LYNX Blue Line brought in an additional 161,281 riders for the month. 

"Ridership on the LYNX Blue Line is far exceeding our first year projections of 9,100 trips per day.  The daily ridership since the start of revenue service is already averaging 12,000 riders," Zingale said.  "With the additions and improvements that we constantly make to our services, we are making commuting easier for residents and we're glad to see that they're choosing CATS."

To learn more about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or visit us on the web at www.ridetransit.org.