MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mecklenburg County transportation leaders are planning for the future, both in the short-term and long-term.
They’re discussing priorities for improvements and expansion, including how to pay for them.
In northern Mecklenburg County, a micro-transit service will start toward the end of February.
“Sounds like a great way to get around,” said Fulton Shober, who lives in Huntersville.
People looking for a ride in Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville will be able to utilize an Uber-style mode of transportation starting February 24.
“I think it’s a great idea, especially for people in the area that don’t drive,” said Beth Ann Totillo, who works in downtown Davidson.
CATS-branded cars will pick people up and take them to their destination for $2.20.
“I have a daughter who doesn’t drive and needs to get places and it’s really difficult for her to pay $20 for an Uber to get around,” said Totillo.
She works at The Village Store in downtown Davidson. Totillo believes the micro-transit service could bring new customers to the store.
“People don’t necessarily want to drive, especially on main streets of places,” she said. “It would be great for them. Parking is difficult in a lot of places.”
Beyond this new service, many people are excited about the potential Red Line, an extension of the light rail running north of uptown.
“Love going into Charlotte but nobody wants to drive on I-77, so to have that to be able to go in and out of Charlotte on a regular basis will be awesome,” said Totillo.
Mecklenburg County transportation leaders are coming up with ways to use the potential one-cent transit sales tax for the Red Line and other plans. The tax needs state approval to fund several rail projects, but they may not be able to get all of them.
On Wednesday, CATS leaders presented four different possible plans. All including building the Red Line in full and extending the Gold Line.
Scenario 1 is to run the Silver Line from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Bojangles Coliseum, and the Blue Line extension would stop in Pineville.
The next option is to build out the eastern part of the Silver Line and make the western portion bus rapid transit, with the Blue Line ending in Pineville.
Scenario 3 involves making the entire Silver Line bus rapid transit and extending the Blue Line to Ballantyne.
The last option includes building the Silver Line and the Blue Line extension as bus rapid transit.
Community members will get an opportunity to weigh in on these plans. The Mecklenburg Transit Commission will make a final decision in the spring.
