NEWS

At their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, October 10, 2017, Davidson Town Commissioners heard an update from Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Senior Planner Jason Lawrence about plans for improving mass transit connections between the towns of North Mecklenburg and Charlotte. The presentation is available for public view at the URL below. Just click presentation.

Lawrence and other CATS official will also be available to discuss the plans in person at a public forum to be held next Tuesday, October 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall.

Lawrence said CATS vision for growth continues to integrate rapid transit along five transportation corridors, one of which is the “red line” connecting North Mecklenburg towns with Charlotte.

One aspect of the plan is “Envision My Ride,” a new initiative to redesign CATS entire current bus system. It would improve cross-town and suburb-to-suburb bus service, establish more connections between bus routes, and improve frequency of service and direct services. Envision My Ride initiatives will also be integrated into I-77 express lanes, as they are completed.

The presentation also noted that planning for commuter rail on the red line has been stymied by refusal of Norfolk Southern Railroad to allow use of its tracks for rapid transit. However, the plan presented a scenario in which the red line would be constructed as light rail on an entirely new route between Mount Mourne and downtown Charlotte, not using Norfolk Southern right of way.