The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) will hold public workshops through January 28 to gather input from residents for a Pedestrian and Bicycle Neighborhood Connectivity Study. CDOT requests public involvement to help identify citywide projects that can enhance connectivity for bicycle and pedestrian access within Charlotte neighborhoods.

For more information, including workshop schedules, click here.

On Tuesday, January 24, CATS and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's (CMPD) Crime Stoppers announced a new joint effort to catch vandals who damage CATS' property.  The partnership is in conjuntion with Transit Watch, a nationwide program that encourages the community to be actively involved in the safety and security of their transit system. 

If you have information about someone damaging or vandalizing CATS' property, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.  If your tip results in an arrest, you're eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.

To learn more about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or click here.

Did you know that three out of four neighborhoods in Charlotte are eligible for up to $25,000 in funds through the Neighborhood Matching Grants Program?  The program awards funds to neighborhood-based organizations for projects that will make neighborhoods better places to live, work, play and do business.

The next application deadline is March 15.  To apply, a representative from the organization must attend one of the following pre-application workshops:

February 7, 6 – 8:30 pm, West Blvd. Library, 2127 West Blvd.
February 15, 6 – 8:30 pm, Beatties Ford Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Rd.
February 18, 9:30 am – Noon, Carmel Rd. Library, 6624 Walsh Blvd.
February 23, 6 – 8:30 pm, University City Library, 301 E. WT Harris Blvd.

For more information, including program guidelines, call 704-336-2349 or click here.

Solid Waste Services has developed a program to address a serious issue in Charlotte communities – the accumulation of unscheduled bulky items.

The Call and Send program is a partnership with neighborhoods and the City's Neighborhood Development department that provides neighborhood association representatives with the tools to reduce unscheduled bulky items in their community.

To find out how to implement the program in your neighborhood, click here.

The Call and Send program may not be right for every neighborhood, but scheduling bulky items is for every Charlotte resident.  Items too large to be placed in the rollout cart are considered bulky items and must be scheduled for collection.  To schedule, call 311 or visit http://curbit.charmeck.org.

It's that time of year again … SAFE KIDS Charlotte-Mecklenburg seeks volunteers for their Annual Child Car Seat Clinic.  Please mark your calendar to participate in the signature life saving event:

Saturday, February 18
10 am – 1 pm
Eastland Mall, 5471 Central Ave.

Volunteers will be needed from 9 am – 3 pm.  Opportunities include:

• Greeters
• Traffic Directors
• Scribes
• Baby Wranglers
• Runners
• Interpreters

All volunteers will receive a T-shirt, lunch and other goodies.  To volunteer, contact Jo Provost by February 4 at 704-336-8377 or jprovost@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

Tune in to The Government Channel – Cable 16 for the latest government news and information.

City Source – Thursday, January 26 at 5:30 pm
Meet the new owners of the Charlotte Coliseum property.   Also, take a look at construction on the South Corridor Light Rail Line.

To learn more about The Government Channel, visit http://govchannel.charmeck.org.