Charlotte Area Transit System

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'Charlotte Area Transit System Logo-a.jpg

Areas Served: Charlotte, NC and vicinity
Founded: 1999[1]
Fleet Size:
  • Bus: 322
  • Light-Rail: 20[2]
Service Types: Fixed-Route, Dial-A-Ride
2010 Ridership: 131,630,832[3]
Website: charmeck.org/cats

Charlotte Area Transit System is the fixed-route and para-transit public transport system serving Mecklenburg County with an emphasis on the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.


History

Charlotte Area Transit System traces its history back to Charlotte Transit. Formed in 1976, Charlotte Transit took over the privately operated bus routes in the city. As the city's population and sprawl grew, the limited scope of the service (serving the city of Charlotte only) did not address the transit needs of the greater metropolitan area. As such, the 2025 Integrated Transit/Land-Use Plan for Charlotte-Mecklenburg was published in July 1998 to tackle these unmet needs, with the baseline issue being transforming Charlotte Transit into a more regional agency. Acting on this plan, Mecklenburg County held and passed a referendum in November 1998 to institute a sales tax to improve public transit service for the Charlotte metropolitan area, laying the groundwork for CATS to expand outside of the city and across the county. This vote led to the creation of the Metropolitan Transit Commission (1999) with the cooperation of the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and six suburban towns in the county (Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, Pineville, Matthews, and Mint Hill), centralizing transit planning and funding for all stakeholders under one umbrella as stipulated by the 2025 Transit/Land-Use Plan. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) came out of the Metropolitan Transit Commission in 1999, though the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) still exists as CATS' board for policy issues. In 2000, the Metropolitan Transit Commission and Charlotte Transit were merged, creating the CATS that exists today.

Charlotte Transit vehicles are listed under the Charlotte Area Transit System roster on this page.

Routes

Fares

Bus Roster

Active

Fleet
Number(s)
Thumbnail Build
Date
Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
400-410 Charlotte Area Transit System 409-a.jpg 2009 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Originally ordered for express service, currently run on local routes.
  • Suburban configuration, no rear doors
501-510 Charlotte Area Transit System 507-a.jpg 2001 MCI D4000 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500R
533-583 Charlotte Area Transit System 546-a.jpg 2003 Gillig Phantom 40'
(C20D102N4)
Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR Allison B400R
  • Suburban configuration, no rear doors.
  • Occasionally run on local routes.
  • 49 units remain in service.
590-597 2004 Gillig Phantom 40'
(C20D102N4)
Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR
637-655 Charlotte Area Transit System 650-a.jpg 2007 Gillig BRT 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
  • 16 units remain in service.
656-658 2009 Gillig BRT 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins ISL
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
659-665, 667-669 2012 Gillig BRT 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins ISL9
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
681 2017 Gillig BRT 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins L9
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
682-685 2019-2020 Gillig BRT 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins L9
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
940-960 2004 Gillig Low Floor 40'
(G29D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • 2 units remain in service.
961-968 2007 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
1001-1002 2009 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
1003-1020 Charlotte Area Transit System 1019-a.jpg 2009 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
1021-1043 Charlotte Area Transit System 1040-a.jpg 2011 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
1044-1071 2012 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
1072-1073 2014 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
1074-1083 2015 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R
1084-1086 2017 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins B6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
1087-1094 2017 Gillig BRT 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins L9 Allison B400R
1095-1096 2018 Gillig BRT Plus 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins L9 Allison B400R
1097-1099 2019 Gillig Low Floor 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins L9 Allison B400R
1501-1502 2016 MCI D4500CT Cummins ISX12 Allison B500
1503-1511 2017 MCI D4500CT Cummins ISX12 Allison B500
1512-1528 2020 MCI D4500CT Cummins X12 Allison B500
  • 12 buses ordered originally for MetroRapid service for North Mecklenburg County, increased to 17
  • See here
2111-2116 Charlotte Area Transit System 2113-a.jpg 2011 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins ISB6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2117-2120 2013 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins ISB6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2121-2128 2017 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins B6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2129-2132 2017 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins B6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2133-2144 2018 Gillig BRT Plus HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins B6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2145-2160 2020 Gillig BRT Plus HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins B6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
2201-2206 2021 Gillig Low Floor EV 40'
(G28D102N4)
  • Part of an 18-bus pilot program which will last from 12-18 months.
  • 2021-2022 models
2210-2215 2021 New Flyer XE40
  • Part of an 18-bus pilot program which will last from 12-18 months.
  • 2022 models
2216-2218 2022 Gillig Low Floor EV 40'
(G28D102N4)
2501-2502 2005 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G19D102N4)
Cummins ISB Allison EP40 hybrid system
2670-2680 2013 Gillig BRT HEV 29'
(G30E102R2)
Cummins ISB6.7 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
  • Operate on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
2901-2905 Charlotte Area Transit System 2903-a.jpg 2009 Gillig BRT HEV 40'
(G30D102N4)
Cummins ISB Allison EP40 hybrid system
  • Used for Airport Sprinter service.

Retired

Fleet
Number(s)
Thumbnail Build
Date
Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
? 1988 OBI Orion II
(02.502)
Allison AT-545 4 units
? 1992 OBI Orion II
(02.502)
Allison AT-545 3 units
101-134 1979 GMC RTS-03
(T8H-603)
Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison V730
135-176 1982 Grumman Flxible 870
(40096-6T)
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V730 Delivered in January 1983
177-216 1987 MAN Americana
(SL-4096A)
MAN D2566 MLUH Renk-Doromat 874B Only 96 inch wide MAN Americanas to be built
217-226 1991 TMC RTS-06
(T80-606)
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
227-268 1991 Flxible Metro "B"
(40096-6T)
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison VR731 266 audio clip
301-312 2001 Chance AH-28 Cummins ISB Allison
313-315 2003 Optima AH-28 Cummins ISB Allison
316-319 2004 Optima AH-28 Cummins ISB Allison
320 2005 Optima AH-28 Cummins ISB Allison
511-532 2002 Gillig Phantom 40'
(C20D102N4)
Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR Allison B400R
  • Suburban configuration, no rear doors.
  • Occasionally run on local routes.
601-616 2001 Chance Opus 29'
(LFB29)
Cummins ISB Allison Operated on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
617-619 2003 Gillig Low Floor 29'
(G27E102R2)
Cummins ISL Operated on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
620 2004 Gillig Low Floor 29'
(G29E102R2)
Cummins ISL Operated on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
622-625 2005 Gillig BRT 29'
(G29E102R2)
Cummins ISL Allison B300R Operated on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
630-636 2006 Gillig BRT 29'
(G29E102R2)
Cummins ISL Operated on community shuttles and low-ridership routes
701-720 5-6/1997 Gillig Phantom 40'
(C20D096N4)
Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison B400R
  • Retired circa 2011.
  • View the series page for detailed disposition info.
800-806, 808-844 Charlotte Area Transit System 804-a.jpg 1998 Nova Bus LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 Allison B400R 807 was renumbered 800.
845-851 1999 Nova Bus LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 Allison B400R
852-914 Charlotte Area Transit System 913-a.jpg 2000 Nova Bus LFS Detroit Diesel Series 40 Allison B400R 870 was renumbered 799.
915-925 Charlotte Area Transit System 917-a.jpg 2002 Gillig Low Floor 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
926-930 2003 Gillig Low Floor 40'
(G27D102N4)
Cummins ISL Allison B400R
961-966 1996 Goshen Centurion
1014-1017 1965 GMC TDH-5304 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Ex-Jacksonville City Coach Lines.
1043-1048 1960 GMC TDH-4517 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1049-1058 1961 GMC TDH-4517 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1059-1064 1962 GMC TDH-4517 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1065-1070 1965 GMC TDH-4519 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1071-1076 1972 GMC T6H-4523A Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison
1091-1094 1966 GMC TDH-5304 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1095-1099 1961 GMC TDH-5302 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison VH Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1171-1176 1979 Grumman Flxible 870
(45096-6-1)
Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison V730
1179-1195 1982 GMC RTS-04
(T8J-604)
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V730
1200-1203 1967 GMC TDH-5304 Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1204-1207 1969 GMC T6H-5306A Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1208-1213 1971 GMC T6H-5306A Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1220-1221 1972 GMC T6H-5308A Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1222-1229 1974 GMC T8H-5308A Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1250-1257 1973 GMC T6H-4523A Detroit Diesel 6V71N Allison Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s.
1601-1610 1979 MAN SG-220-18-2A MAN D2566 MLUM Renk-Doromat 874A

Lynx Rapid Transit Services fleet

Fleet
Number(s)
Thumbnail Build
Date
Manufacturer Model Motors Passenger Seats Notes
101-116 2006 Siemens S70
117-120 2010 Siemens S70
(6 units) 2020 Siemens S700 Streetcar
  • Will have off-wire battery capability.
  • Will run on the second phase of the CityLYNX Gold Line; expected to open in fall 2020

References

  1. CATS Website: Fast Facts Retrieved on May 24th, 2012
  2. CATS Website: Fast Facts Retrieved on May 24th, 2012
  3. 2010 National Transit Database: Charlotte Area Transit System Retrieved on May 24th, 2012