The transit tax would transform the experience of riding a Charlotte bus
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If Charlotte's proposed transit sales tax passes, 250,000 more people will be within walking distance — a quarter mile — of a bus with 15-minute frequencies by 2031. Only about 29,000 people are within that distance today.
Why it matters: The sales tax would fully fund the $522 million "Better Bus" plan and increase service by nearly 50% within five years, according to Charlotte Area Transit System. It'll also pay for new shelters for riders to comfortably wait for the bus — one of their top requests.
- "This is about creating the opportunity for people to travel safely and be in a place where it's clean and has dignity," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said.
- Of CATS' more than 3,000 bus stops, 1,063 have no boarding area. They're just signs.
Context: Although bus doesn't garner as much attention as rail, it's more broadly used and widespread.
- 60% of CATS riders are taking the bus, according to the agency. A reliable bus system is also one of the most effective ways to improve people's chances of upward mobility by providing a predictable mode of transit to places like work and school.
Catch up quick: Mecklenburg County leaders hope to put a referendum on this November's election ballot asking voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase for transit. Under the proposal, the local bus system would receive 20% of the tax revenue — an estimated $69 million annually.
The big picture: Bus system improvements would be some of the first real benefits of the tax. The Red Line, the priority rail project, will take an estimated nine years to build.
Zoom in: Under the plan, CATS' 15 bus routes with the highest ridership will move to 15-minute frequencies. All other routes will be improved to 30 minutes or faster.
- The funding would fully implement CATS-provided microtransit countywide. Microtransit is like Uber. Riders can call an affordable ride to their front door.
- Plus, CATS will add 2,000 shelters, benches and waiting pads to stops and makeover the transit center in Uptown.
- CATS will also consider implementing signal priority for buses and expanding express routes and paratransit, the agency's interim CEO Brent Cagle says.
By the numbers: 72% of Mecklenburg County would be within a quarter mile of buses with at least 30 minutes frequency. Within a half mile, that percentage bumps up to 90%.
Go deeper: How Charlotte could spend its $19.4 billion in transit sales tax revenue