"F*** THE BUS. WE WANT TRAINS:" Charlotteans shut down bus rapid transit plans
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
The results are in: Charlotte doesn't want bus rapid transit (BRT).
Why it matters: City leaders are trying to draft a transit plan desirable enough to persuade voters to pass a 1-cent sales tax increase to fund the projects.
- But based on public feedback, it seems engaged residents overwhelmingly view any plan that prioritizes bus rapid transit as a waste of money.
Context: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) leaders have promoted the advantages of BRT for months, describing it as an enhanced version of the city bus with faster boarding, signal priority and, in some cases, dedicated lanes to bypass traffic.
- It's also cheaper than rail, by about 30-50%, according to CATS. So Charlotte could build more transit infrastructure, faster, while reaching more corners of the city.
Yes, but: There are no "gold-standard" examples of BRT in the U.S. Even Cleveland's system, once known as the best BRT line in North America, is struggling with efficiency and has seen ridership fall accordingly.
- Many are skeptical that Charlotte would be the first American city to do it well.
Zoom out: Raleigh is also pursuing BRT, but when it last solicited bids, it got no responses.
Driving the news: Based on public survey responses, CATS staff has advised that the local transit board move forward with a rail-focused plan and scrap all bus rapid transit proposals.
Catch up quick: The board, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), has been looking at four potential scenarios for spending an estimated $19.4 billion from the potential sales tax revenue, plus $5.9 billion more in matching federal grants.
- Two scenarios pitch building the entire Silver Line, from I-485 to Matthews, as bus rapid transit instead of rail.
- The most favored option, based on the survey, builds the most rail: the Red Line commuter rail built in full, the Gold Line streetcar extended, the Silver Line built as light rail from the airport station to Bojangles Coliseum, and the Blue Line extended as light rail to Pineville.
- All four scenarios include $3.8 billion to improve the existing bus system, from upping frequencies to installing new benches.
Cheat sheet: Charlotte's 4 rail lines, what's built and what's coming
What they're saying: Axios reviewed 1,065 responses to CATS' survey prompt: "Tell us what you think about the alternative program scenarios for the Transit System Plan." Below are some of the hottest takes about BRT versus rail. Quotes are edited slightly for grammar and clarity.
- Any scenario that relies on "Bus Rapid Transit" is making the choice to keep Charlotte area transportation in the 1950s.
- The average American will not ride a bus as an alternative to their car. We need to get cars off the road and to do that we need rail. RBT is a waste of money.
- In general, I'm not sure you're going to get South Charlotteans to ride buses. Even if it is BRT. It's a perception thing.
- Bus routes can change and that discourages real development along the route.
- I am worried that a BRT line to Matthews would lock us out of a future light rail extension to Monroe and Union County as a whole, which is rapidly developing.
- (Scenario 1) would make Charlotte a destination city that can be taken seriously because of the ability to ride rail systems...Amazing examples of true rail systems are Washington, D.C., Boston, etc. We can join this echelon of cities only by choosing rail first.
- Don't be held hostage by bad decisions from the GOP. Grow a pair, Charlotte, you're the largest city between Atlanta and DC- it's time to act like it.
- If Silver Line will terminate at Bojangles, there needs to be strong investment in bike/ped and bus infrastructure to make that area accessible and easy to use
- The most important thing is to actually build something and not just talk about it forever.
- Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's Bus Rapid Transit. Too, too often that is a term bandied about to inflate the perceived significance of inferior service.
- I've been to good BRT systems (i.e. Ottawa for example) and they can work well if done right. But that includes the ability to convert to rail over time. People in Charlotte have no idea what a BRT is, so would require a huge education effort. And BRT would have to be done right, which I don't trust CATS to do.
- Scenarios 2 and 4 are atrocious. Having a "single" line be a combination of light rail and bus is such a dumb idea that only Charlotte could consider it feasible.
- Bus Rapid Transit is the poorest choice due to skyrocketing capacity and labor cost issues if the system grows.
- Wasting time and money on bus rapid transit lanes will only slow CLT's progress to become a great city designed for people vs roads and cars.
- F*** THE BUS. WE WANT TRAINS TO THE AIRPORT, TRAINS TO GASTONIA WOULD BE NICE, TRAINS TO MATTHEWS TOO. NO BUS, NO CARS. WE WANT AND NEED TRAINS, ARE YOU GUYS OUT DRIVING AND SEEING THIS MESS TOO?
- Scenario 1 is the pie in the sky and would be amazing. I think scenario 2 gives the best combo of money saving and service to the communities.
- I've taken the light rail, but under no circumstances will I ever, ever take a city bus. I'd walk first.
What's next: The MTC will vote in May to adopt a transit system plan, which it will then present to voters in hopes they'll pass a penny sales tax increase to execute the vision.
- However, the North Carolina General Assembly must pass legislation to allow the referendum. Two bills have been filed so far.