The CATS Micro Bus is clearly a very popular option. Unfortunately, they are very expensive compared to the cost of the regular bus. Also, instead of waiting the 30 minutes originally promised, riders can expect to wait more than 2 hours. Seriously disappointed. If you need to be to work on time, or need to make it to an appointment, give yourself at least two hours. They need more drivers and more vehicles, or they need to bring back the buses. read more

It's not clean buses sometimes don't come or are late making you miss your connects to other transit modes . Micro transit is not reliable . There doing some what better with new Managment and finally new buses but the service has to change to get ridership from pre pandemic read more

Charlotte Area Transportation System - 29 bus at Walmart on lay over - Public Services & Government Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This new micro system sucks. You wait well over an hr for pickup and out of nowhere your ride gets cancelled and you have to rebook. They act ppl are not trying to get to and from work like we have time to be wasting. The worst thing is they took away my bus route to work so I'm forced to use the micro system!! read more

Drivers are generally nice. Almost every single bus I've ever been on in any line is late and it is not reflected in the app. Bus drivers sometimes when you drive right by disabled people at the bus stop that will mean they will dislocate their knee trying to get to the next one (true story). You would think having a mobility disorder, no car, and not living within a mile of a bus stop would make you eligible for paratransit, but no. read more

The new van system in huntersville has done well getting me to charlotte in the am. I get to at 5:30 and get to work at the courthouse by 9 but it has a lot of trouble in the pm. This week it has taken 2.5, 3 hours to get from huntersville gateway to birkdale. I got an estimate for 2 hours. Yesterday I got home after 8 pm. If I could walk the distance I could walk it faster. What I am going to is to quit the call up service and take the express to norcross and then walk 1.3 miles home. And I am going tobuy or rent anewcar. Estimate changed to 7 pm and the van went right past me. read more

Worst Public Transportation System I've ever seen. Constant delays, Breakdowns, Horrible costumer service. I've been written up on jobs due to lack of well provided services. I just had a bus driver ride right by me I ran to run her down and she said I was lucky I caught her at the next light !!! So that means she's blatantly letting me know that she's not paying attention to the posted stops and then admit it to me that she would have left me. You still need a car to live comfortably in this city because CATS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE to the average citizen of Charlotte NC. C.A.T.S. REALLY SHOULD STAND FOR CORNY ASS TRANSIT SYSTEM read more

I moved to Charlotte not long ago... and I thought that this was charming small town. I don't have a car so I take public transportation. After a few months I can say that the CATS system is probably the worst that I have experienced in my life, and I have travelled by the Greyhound. Many, many times buses don't show up, and when they do, they're usually late. Drivers are rude, they yell or scream at you for no reason. They drive pass you at the bus stop if they fell like it. I have seen people doing fentanyl on buses and trains (Lynx). The station I use, (Archdale) has a whole community of drug dealers, prostitution and drug users; I've seen awful things happening at the elevator in that station. . I have made phone calls to file complaints and nothing happens. I'd wish I could give negative star s. I can onl say in polite terms ... it's excrement ... and I'm saving for new car. read more

Both times I went on the bus, both of those ladies were so rude. It does not cost a single dime to be nice. I understand that people have their days but that does not mean they have to take it out on us. read more

My finance was just in uptown waiting for the 77 bus to arrive and the bus flew right passed him didn't stop he waved his hands up and nothing. This man take that bus all the time to Davidson and this was wrong. The bus drivers need to seriously pay more attention and be alert at all times. I'm so pissed off. read more

Absolutely the worst transit company in the south. Every bus always late, nasty attitudes by the drivers. ABSOLUTELY THE WORST!!!!!!!!!! read more

As bus-focused transit systems go, Charlotte's is rather decent. At least in my experience (as a visitor staying in Uptown), the frequencies weren't worse than I've seen in other mid-sized cities (so, lacking, but...), the vehicles were relatively clean and most of the operators were a little friendlier than the norm. The CATS Pass app, at least in its current form, really is the not-so-secret upgrade that makes the whole system more usable (especially for guests or infrequent riders). Being able to purchase passes, get route info, set up point-to-point routings (that make sense), and track real-time vehicle locations within the app mostly makes up for the system's weaknesses. Building a more diversified ridership and improving frequencies are ongoing challenges at most agencies. CATS does seem to have a solid foundation in place and an above-average welcome guide in their app though! Being able to ride from the airport into the city's center for under $3 is hard to beat. Notes: *Taking the bus from CLT? When exiting the terminal, CATS picks up from Zone 4 and the airport is served by two routes. *At the Charlotte Transit Center, not all of the pickup areas are under the main shed's cover. (https://www.charlottenc.gov/CATS/Bus/Maps). *After purchasing a ticket in-app, the resulting QR code can be quickly scanned at the farebox as you step onto the bus. Most people turn their phones horizontally to get the reader to pick up the codes, though either orientation works. read more

The mighty have fallen. This system used to be a great system. That is no longer the case. Poor management of this system has really taken what used to be a great system down to the bare bones. The frequency of the trains is now so far apart that if you take it at any busy time of the day, it is packed wall to wall because they don't run many. They haven't checked tickets in 3 years, which you would think is a good thing...free rides! It is NOT a good thing...everyone knows they don't check, so everyone uses it for free, causing too many people riding that shouldn't. And finally it is now a place where all the homeless people go to sleep all day. They get on first trip of the day, make their nest, and stay there all day taking up multiple seats. Many times I have seen the driver, security, and even police on the train look at them and walk away. Disgusting. Whoever runs the system needs to be replaced immediately. read more

This is the worst day to be on this bus I have just gotten off from work to find myself waiting for over an hour due to this marathon, instead of this bus driver making a detour he decides to wait what is really going on. I know he knows there are other people waiting to get around poor communication and business. read more

I wouldn't say this is really a Good Charlotte system.. Get It Good Charlotte? But it's also not a bad Charlotte Area Transit. I don't have any really good or bad stories from using Charlotte Transit. I particularly like the Tram but only its colors and visuals. The speed is pretty disappointing. You could cycle much faster. The bus is here are fairly clean and easy to use and not too expensive. However I was disappointed by the lack of service to The Wider area. For example getting out to Concord on a Sunday from downtown to see my Suburban friend was way too complicated. read more

Charlotte Area Transportation System - I'm such a charl atan - Public Services & Government Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The bus system on CLT does not run on time and the buses do not connect properly which means you spend a lot of time waiting. Most bus stops do not have seats or shade from the weather. I would not recommend this but being that some of us do not have a car..What choice do we have? Too bad the Blue Line does not run more throughout CLT cos I would definitely recommend that. CLT bus system needs so much improvement that its not even funny but truly DISGUSTING & OUTRAGEOUS!! read more

Some of the drivers are very rude and offensive, personal judgement calls should be kept silent, unnecessary to down people who are unemployed. read more

I used one of their trollies once within the city centre. I think it was free. The driver stopped to buy coffee at Starbucks. Waited 10 minutes for him to come back. Maybe this is a Charlotte thing. Starbucks isn't even that good. Don't recommend this trolley to get to work. read more

One thing I miss about Charlotte: the public transportation system. Especially the light rail. The last two years I lived in Charlotte I used the CATS bus to ride to/from work, eliminating many miles on my car and quite a few traffic headaches. (I DON'T miss Charlotte traffic. Thank goodness Raleigh has no traffic.) The light rail was great for getting to/from uptown (as long as you were somewhere south), Panthers games, from the VW dealership to work, etc. The fares are extremely reasonable, and the buses and light rail are clean. Parking at the station lots is free, and the City does a great job of helping the traffic of patrons for the Wells Fargo Championship in early May. The downsides are that the light rail doesn't go far enough -- it needs to be more like the Metro system of Washington, D.C. by going out to University City, down to Union County, up to the Birkdale area, and over to the airport. Also, it cost WAY too much taxpayer money for no longer than the track currently is. read more

Charlotte Area Transportation System - Public Services & Government Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The drivers forget who the paying customers are...their bags and personal items do not pay for a seat on the bus! Put your items in overhead compartments. Also Karen on the bus, mind your business, everything on the bus is recorded so don't pretend you know what is going on. read more

The light rail is consistently late, doesn't run according to the schedule on the online app at all

I love the bus. No doubt about it. I catch the 77X from H-ville to and from work and love the option to work, sleep, read, play angry birds, write Yelp reviews, etc. during my commute. So totally relaxing vs. fighting that traffic in my car. Not paying for parking, gas, wear and tear on the vehicle? No brainer. I'd give 5 stars if there were rail that made its way up here to the hinterlands. Look forward to that day! read more

There is no enforcement of masks, almost no checks for proper payment, no oversight late night to ensure security, trains go out of service all the time making wait time 45 minutes or longer. It simply sucks. Friday Aug 6: Tonight after waiting 15 minutes train goes by Out of service, another 15 minutes train goes by but Train Out of Service. Waited an hour for train Absolutely awful read more

Last night was my first trip on the light rail and I have to say, I am impressed. The trains are frequent and comfortable, the parking (at the Woodlawn station) is plentiful and well lit, and for a $3 round trip, it can not be beat. My ticket was carefully checked by an inspector, so make sure you buy one from the automated machine before boarding. You can not buy a ticket on the train and the fine is steep! I'm not sure why someone would say "Filth" about the Lynx, as the trains I rode were very clean. Drinking, eating and smoking are not permitted. Having ridden the MARTA in Atlanta, the METRO in Washington and the London Underground to compare, Charlotte's system is excellent. There's only the one route (Ballantyne to Uptown) but it does what it advertises - easy transportation from South Charlotte into the city. Four stars... I'm a fan! read more

The public transportation here helped me out alot. It was my first time ever being in the south but it was soo easy to travel here. The drivers helped me out quite a bit and they were the nicest ever. I got to know the whole city in a day because of the great transportation system out here. The sprinter was my favorite but I believe I tried them all. read more

I would be fan if they genuinely provided student discounts via one card for the semester but I guess a daily rate helps those that can't up with a card for the month. Also, there should be a summer special price card so you know what let me stop this review to write the company directly. 1st - the Golden Rush is the free trolley that runs from 6:50a-6pm Monday - Friday. The stops say they should run every 15 minutes but I've noticed it's more like every 12 minutes inbound and other folks say "Just stand there. It's coming" 2nd - I heart the light rail as it is quiet enough and would LOVE it if it ran all the way to Carolina Place Mall or 1 block by the mall since it goes into Pineville near the Target, Steak and Shake and part of the I-485/I-77. 3rd - The driver's that I have encountered are polite and always speak even when I'm not on the transit but walking by they'll wave or acknowledge me. 4th - The Airport bus is pretty good in my opinion. It's an express, reasonable fair compared to an Uber. $2.20 vs $8. from Uptown. It runs really early too. 5th - I haven't made it to the street car yet. I don't know the hours and such but I look forward to getting around via the street car. read more

One can't expect much from public transit in a city this size, I suppose. That said, some comments, from a business traveler: The airport is not served by the new light rail. One has to take a bus, either to the city or to a light rail stop, which of course is an express bus with an elevated fare. You could buy a day pass for the entire transit system at a decent rate, but you can't buy it at the airport. So out of towners like me are not well served. The express busses from the airport are at least reasonably fast and direct, but I had a torrid time with a couple of other busses I tried, one of which was almost a half an hour late (but the one before it was not late, or I would have caught it), and another of which had a route that was different from the posted map and didn't bother to let anyone know about it. The Lynx, their light rail, is new and cool-looking but not free of drawbacks. For one thing, it doesn't really go to many useful places. The only extant route runs from the center of town through some anonymous suburban park and rides with not much going on around them. It does not go to the airport or the university. Probably okay for car-based commuters that live here, but not that useful to me. At the end of the line, they were clearly continuing to build, so perhaps the system will grow into something. For another, the suburban stations are quite high off the ground, and with no escalators, you're either walking up quite a few stairs or waiting on the one elevator. At least the elevators worked. The trains themselves are quite nice, very quiet (I missed one because I was on those long stairs and didn't hear it coming), and run with appreciable frequency. The stations are very modern, and voice notifications abound. They run off an odd honor system policy; you buy a ticket and no one really checks. In theory you'd get a citation if you failed to pay. Why fare gates weren't an option I don't know. All told, you might look at CAT and think it's cost efficient, but travelers might be better served by other modes of transportation until Charlotte builds more rail. read more

I'm a big fan of the light rail system. I just wish they could build it faster! Sometimes I catch myself just finding an excuse to ride the train into downtown. Sure it takes extra time to catch it... but it sure beats trying to find a parking deck, paying, road rage, etc. My office use to me downtown so I would ride the express bus from Matthews in the mornings and afternoons. Man I miss it - having that extra 15-20min of sleeping time was great since the express buses are nice and plush. The way that CATS has the express buses set up is that it picks up its riders and then there's a straight shot downtown. I've tried using the express buses in the mornings now, but my commute is 1hr if I do that (I have to make a connection in the downtown terminal). Still it beats driving though. In my book, Charlotte has undergone many changes through the years and the transportation system is just one of the many "nice" features the city can be recognized for. Can't wait to see what the system looks like in 10-20 more years. read more

I've only ever ridden on the Lynx light rail system, so I can't speak to the other stuff CATS has to offer. But if you're looking to hop a ride uptown for the night, then Lynx is a great option if you live near it. The Lynx is pretty new to Charlotte, only a year or so old, & it's quite popular. If you work uptown & you're looking for a place to live, then living close to the Lynx is a great idea. Also, if you're just heading out uptown for the night, this is a great way to find a cheap way to & from home to the bars. You don't have to worry about driving home after a few drinks, & it's much cheaper than a taxi. There is so much great stuff along the Lynx line other than just uptown too, with plenty of shops & restaurants within walking distance of the Lynx stations. If I were to move to Charlotte, I would definitely try to find a place along the Lynx light rail to live. While you may pay a little more for a place along the line, you'll spend less in gas as you only have to pay for the cheap ride on the light rail. This is a great addition to Charlotte & a great way to get around the city. read more

Charlotte Area Transportation System - Lynx Light Rail Station - Public Services & Government Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I'm a pretty big fan of the light rail. In just a year, it's become extremely popular. Tons of people use it to commute to work or to go out uptown. I take the light rail every time I'm going to a Bobcats game or event uptown. Why drive and pay $10 or $20 to park when you can have a designated driver for just $3 roundtrip? If you're taking the rail, allow for plenty of time to buy a ticket. The platforms don't have enough machines and you'll likely have to wait in line to purchase a ticket. Lynx is still so new that the cars are clean and quiet. The bus system, on the other hand, is not as pleasant. I've taken the bus to work before and never really enjoy the experience. The bus has become more and more crowded as gas prices have skyrocketed. The routes are also set up in such a way that it's hard to transfer. You often have to go back to the uptown transit center to transfer. read more

Charlotte Area Transportation System - Public Services & Government Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The worst transit system in history especially the #2 I wait hours for the bus just to go home where some days I get off at 8 and won't get to the house until a little after 10 or a little after 11. I'm waiting at a bus stop now, got off one bus and the #2 never stopped for me. I flagged it down and he still kept going. Some of the bus drivers are very nasty and disrespectful. I can't wait to get another vehicle because the bus system here is horrible. read more

I'm really impressed by the Charlotte transportation system. Since I've moved uptown, I've used it on many occasions from the light rail, to the good old regular bus and the Sprinter line to the airport. Since I'm not used to taking public transportation, I was a bit nervous about catching the correct bus. I decided to call CATS and they were *extremely* helpful. I basically said, "I see a bus stop outside my window, and I have no idea what it's called or where it goes." The representative figured out which one it was and told me where I could go from there! I've taken it to the University area which was a bit cramped on the way back during rush hour, and there were a few "interesting" passengers. Nevertheless, it got the job done. The light rail is fabulous; however, as Nicole W., mentioned, I wish it had more stops and ran at more times. It doesn't make sense to me that it stops running at 1 AM when the bars close at 2 AM. My absolute new fav though is the Sprinter. It is freaking awesome! The last time I didn't have a ride to the airport, I paid a $25 flat fee cab ride from uptown and of course left an additional tip. The Sprinter bus is $1.75 and only .85 cents if you have a student ID! It runs every 20/30 minutes depending on the time and day so I think it's pretty convenient. Bonus for me - it stops right outside my apartment complex! read more

Save the planet, go mass transit, right? While this review is solely based on the Lynx light rail system, I know plenty of folks who appreciate and depend on the CATS bus system too. I live only a few blocks from two of the South End light rail stations and I really appreciate it. Hubs and I often spend the affordable $1.50 to hit up Uptown and avoid the sometimes irritating parking dance in Center City. The rail itself is quick, clean and easy and purchasing tickets is a total cinch via the ticket stands. My only minor gripes? For one, the rail doesn't run quite as often as I'd like. During off times expect to wait up to 20 minutes between trains...which, if you tend to run a bit late, like me, an additional 20 minutes can make you uber late. Oops. Plus, the light rail doesn't run super late on the weekends; I believe the last outbound run is around 1 am, which is late for me, but not for some folks who stay out all hours at EpiCentre. It goes without being said, but I would use the light rail even more if they extended it to other areas of Charlotte. Here's hoping that comes to fruition in a reasonable amount of time! read more

I've got something very important to say: ATLANTA, GET A CLUE. THIS IS IT. Ride was clean, smooth, quick, and effortless. Pretty cheap and it saved us $15 to park since we wound up in Charlotte during Taste of Charlotte. I'm a huge fan of public transportation, and I'm excited to see this in Charlotte. It's not a full subway system like NYC or Boston, but it's a very fine start and the future projects for the system sound grand. Funny, someone told us that Charlotte incorporated the light rail (along with various performing arts centers) to be more like Atlanta. I've got news for you, Charlotte: You win. read more

I never thought I would be a public transportation kind of girl but Charlotte turned me into one. After moving to Ballantyne, I had to find a more convenient way to get Uptown in a decent amount of time without the possibility of road rage and there was CATS. CATS offers over 70 bus and rail routes and even offers Express lines to surrounding counties and throughout South and North Charlotte. I used to take the Rea Road Express which ran about every 30-40 minutes between 6A-9A and 4-7P. The first time on the bus I was nervous-do I smile, make eye contact , keep to myself? Most of the people on it were business people going Uptown and after riding for a month, got to know them on a one on one basis. I could read, check emails and listen to my iPod (or occasionally take a nap but if you do this, set an alarm or be sure someone wakes you up). Pleasant experience in my three years of riding for the most part and it took about 40 mins to get Uptown from Rea and 485. Nice people, cushioned seats and only a few times of standing room only on the bus (around the time we ran out of gas in Charlotte). My only gripes were that I wish they had longer hours available for the Express lines and ran on weekends. Now that I think about it is another major gripe was that on the way to work or going home from work, if the bus was ahead of schedule it would sit on the side of the road for a few minutes until it was back on schedule and that didn't sit well with me. I'm trying to get somewhere CATS---take me there who cares if you're ahead of schedule? I moved to Dilworth and started riding the local Selwyn route which was ok---it ran more frequently throughout the day, convenient stops in Uptown however it didn't have the cushioned seats I had grown accustomed to and my booty didn't like that. The main issue is that all the lines seem to go directly to and from the Uptown Transportation Center (which I so affectionately call The Blvd of Broken Dreams--everyone looks super sad to be there) and could use more lines going throughout town (i.e. on 51 or Tyvola) Light Rail is a good concept however with one line down to South and 485, it really isn't convenient to a major chunk of the Charlotte population. If we were to have a light rail system like Portland where they have multiple lines going to the city and other areas from the airport, we could be so much more. Light Rail is packed on game days and late night with people heading from Uptown and always provides good people watching experience (like one dude who was rapping about KFC and Jesus-who knew those two were even so closely related?) When I've been on, it's been an ok experience but think they should run it an hour later to correlate with the hours of bars closing. Worrying about catching the last train while trying to enjoy an adult beverage isn't exactly a happy thought. From what I've heard about in other cities, we have a pretty nice public transportation system. Take a chance ......and a ride on CATS---our tax dollars are going to it so why not?! read more

they rip you off with the unlimited weekly pass, no matter what day of the week you buy the pass, it still expires saturday at midnight. This is a very bad option for people who are off work on mondays and tuesdays as your pass will only be good until saturday, also the majority of stops have no place to sit or any type of shelter so you could be standing outside in the cold, heat , or rain for as long as 40 min waiting on a bus read more

The light rail's only failing is that we need more of it. It is wonderful for traveling from Uptown to South End and beyond, but in any other direction you're eff'd. Apparently that is going to change. They have already laid the groundwork for a line out to Elizabeth, but after closing the street for a year to install the tracks, ran out of money and paused the project. That extra route will be added one day. Presumably soon, since it is 90% completed. Then I met a couple of surveyors in the woods by UNCC (long story) who were examining the ground's suitability for an above-ground extension of the network to the northeast. And the UNCC student union was built with a train station on the assumption that it will one day be connected to the LYNX system. So that's at least two train routes in the works. Unfortunately, the system now relies on buses. Buses are not great, for the simple reason that they travel on roads and that roads are slow, bumpy and twisty. Otherwise they are fine. There is a big stigma against public transportation in the south, presumably because it puts you into contact with poor people (!!!), but that is a stigma worth confronting. I met a lot of interesting people on the bus, but most were far more normal than I expected. With a car you can live your entire life meeting only people that you have handpicked. Public transportation forces you to interact with strangers and learn something about the people in your community. I think we all benefit from that. read more

Yelpers commenting on the Charlotte Area Transportation System, please visit the facebook group supporting expansion of Charlotte's Light Rail lines and installation of the Streetcar. Link is below: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlotteans-for-the-Streetcar-and-Light-Rail-expansion/146636445353948?ref=ts read more

In light of the gas prices being out of control and the fact that parking uptown is ridiculously expensive, I started riding the Express bus a few years ago and still purchase 10-ride passes pre-tax each month (as they are cheaper then the monthly pass and better for me as I work from home a couple of days a week and don't use the bus on the weekends). I really enjoy the ease with which I'm able to catch the bus a mile from my house, then totally zone out, nap (it's true), catch up on some work or read a book/magazine while someone else takes care of the driving. And the Express bus is clean, has fewer stops, and drops me two blocks from my office. In terms of cost, the Express bus is a bit more expensive then the city bus, but totally worth the time saved; I don't mind paying a bit more for less stops, the commuter clientele and cushy seats. As the Express bus only runs during peak commuting times, I've had to take the city bus twice, and would still give that three stars. And I've had the opportunity to use the light rail as well, which seems to be relatively busy at all times of the day (and night)...but is also delightful. All CATS options offer a place to store your bike onboard while riding, which is a nice perk. If you're trying to go-green (or save some), I highly recommend checking into CATS. With a minimal amount of effort, you could make your commute a much more pleasant experience. read more

I am a huge fan of the Light Rail. I mean, how can you really beat a $1.50 for a ride? The train cars are clean and they run just about every 7 mins during peak hours. They even have sections to store your bike if you need to. I just would like for it to travel at a faster speed. Thats all. It stops right at the Epicenter and Bobcats arena. Jackpot! PS. Im not sure if the Gold Rush Trolley falls under CATS but that is pretty sweet too. Free shuttle around uptown!! Niiiiiiiiice. -Ian M. read more

I love the lightrail. I'm one of the lucky south Charlotte individuals who benefit from this service. I'm just sorry that the city made this move to implement a rail system right before the bubble burst on the economy. I don't see expansion happening anytime soon, what with the muni-bond market looking like it does. And that's really the only way to fund any type of real expansion to the north and the east. I forsee this being a problem with the Lightrail's current expansion plans. Trains are always clean and secure...CATS has contracted with Allied Barton Security to staff the light rail at all times with armed security...not that the CLT is a dangerous place, but its a nice security blanket to have, especially when riding late night. You may even get lucky and have one of the funny train operators in the morning and evening work commutes. You can tell some of these guys really love their jobs! If I'm on more of a set work schedule (which isn't often), the express routes to/from south charlotte are great! 82x is a great service for south charlotte, and beyond (they go all the way to Rock Hill)! Word of advice; the tickets/passes for the express routes are an extra charge. Don't try to get on the bus with a normal monthly Blue Line/ Local pass, or you may find yourself walking! read more