Charlotte Area Transit System

'
Areas Served:	Charlotte, NC and vicinity
Founded:	1999
Fleet Size:	Bus: 322 Light-Rail: 20
Service Types:	Fixed-Route, Dial-A-Ride
2010 Ridership:	131,630,832
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

• Schedules (Bus)
• Schedules (Rail)
• System Map
• Charlotte Uptown System Map

Fares

• Fares

Bus Roster

Active

Fleet Number(s)	Thumbnail	Build Date	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Notes
400-410		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		2001	MCI	D4000	Detroit Diesel Series 60	Allison B500R
533-583		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		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		2009	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL	Allison B400R
1021-1043		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		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		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		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		2000	Nova Bus	LFS	Detroit Diesel Series 40	Allison B400R	870 was renumbered 799.
915-925		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	Formerly Charlotte City Coach Lines same #s. 1074 is preserved by CATS.
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	Ex-MARTA same #s; bought in 1990. To World Transportation.

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