Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496
Brooks Newkirk (704) 432-2549
CATS' NEW FARES TAKE EFFECT ON OCTOBER 6
Charlotte, N.C., September 29, 2008 - Beginning Monday, October 6, new fares take effect on Charlotte Area Transit System's (CATS) bus and rail services. The increase in fares is due to the rapid rise in the cost of fuel, which has increased more than 29 percent since January 2008.
"In order to continue providing the community with quality transportation service at the current level, we had to implement a fare increase," said Keith Parker, CATS' Chief Executive Officer. "We travel more than 20 million miles annually, so any increase in fuel impacts our budget dramatically. Without the fare increase, we projected a $4 million shortfall in the FY2009 CATS operating fuel budget."
In addition to the new fares on October 6, CATS will implement several schedule changes to better serve customers including adding extra trips and modifying routes. Major changes taking place include:
- Route 54X University Research Park Express, 77X North Mecklenburg Express and 82X Rock Hill Express: Additional morning trips will be added to each of these routes to accommodate growing ridership.
- Route 1 Mt. Holly Road: Two existing inbound trips leaving from Todd Park at 6:08 p.m. and 6:28 p.m. will be combined into one trip leaving from Todd Park at 6:18 p.m.
- Route 7 Beatties Ford Road: Route 7 trips that currently operate via Sunset Road will be extended to Statesville Road at Harris Oaks. Trip times will be adjusted as a result of this extension.
- Route 13 Nevin Road: Saturday night service will be improved on Route 13. Saturday night service will run later with the last outbound trip scheduled to leave from the Charlotte Transportation Center at 12:45 a.m. In addition, Route 13 Nevin Road will be adjusted to operate via Dalton Avenue to North Tryon Street on its way to Uptown Charlotte.
- Route 22 Graham Street: Route 22 will be improved to operate every 30 minutes on weekdays, with later service to the University Research Park area. Sunday service will be improved to operate every 30 minutes.
For a complete list of schedule changes, visit www.ridetransit.org or call 704-336-RIDE (7433).
