Charlotte’s New Light Rail Extension Increases Rail Ridership by 48 Percent

The Charlotte Area Transit System's LYNX Blue Line light rail service experienced a 48 percent increase in ridership with the opening of the Blue Line Extension. Service for the extension of the LYNX Blue Line began on March 16th and contributed to the increase in rail ridership along with contributing to a 6 percent year to date increase in light rail ridership over the previous year. The new extension is 9.3 miles and connects center city Charlotte through NoDA and North Tryon Street communities to the campus of UNC Charlotte.

“These ridership numbers demonstrates the community’s acceptance and desire for increased transit options as an alternative to traffic congestion,” said John Lewis, CEO of Charlotte Area Transit System. “CATS continues our commitment to enhancing transit services in the region and look forward to expanding transit options in the future.”

“These results reinforce the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s decisions and the public’s support for rapid transit in the region,” said Ella Scarborough, chair of the MTC. “The MTC is on the right track as we advance rapid transit studies in the northern towns with the LYNX Red Line; towards the airport with the West Corridor and towards Matthews with the newly adopted LYNX Silver Line locally preferred alternative.”

With the opening of the extension, the LYNX Blue Line now connects one side of our city to the other. “The extension of the LYNX Blue line is a great asset to our community and region, connecting people with opportunities, to jobs, higher education and more mobility options,” said Vi Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte.

Along with the 48 percent increase in overall rail ridership, average weekday ridership on light rail saw a 38 percent increase compared with March 2017, at 20,453 passenger trips, and average Saturdays saw a spike of 107 percent; illustrating that overall ridership growth occurred across all days of the week with the addition of the BLE. CATS ridership is released monthly as part of the MTC report.