The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Charlotte metropolitan area. CATS operates bus and rail transit services in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. Established in 1999, CATS' bus and rail operations carry about 320,000 riders on an average week. CATS is governed by the Metropolitan Transit Commission and is operated as a department of the City of Charlotte. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,476,600, or about 40,900 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
The Charlotte Transportation Center (CTC), also known as Arena or CTC/Arena, is an intermodal transit station in Center City Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It serves as the central hub for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses and connects with the LYNX Blue Line and CityLYNX Gold Line. It is located on East Trade Street, Fourth Street and Brevard Street. Notable places nearby include the Bank of America Corporate Center, Belk Theater, EpiCentre, Overstreet Mall and the Spectrum Center.
The LYNX Silver Line is a proposed east–west light rail line in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Silver Line would connect the outlying cities and towns of Belmont, Matthews, Stallings and Indian Trail to Uptown Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. In the refined locally preferred alternative (LPA), released in early 2021, the route is estimated to be around 29 miles (47 km), with 29 stations and one maintenance facility.
The CityLynx Gold Line is a streetcar line in Charlotte, North Carolina. A component of the Charlotte Area Transit System's Lynx rail system, it follows a primarily east-west path along Beatties Ford Road, Trade Street and Central Avenue through central Charlotte. The initial 1.5-mile (2.4 km), six-stop segment between Time Warner Cable Arena and Presbyterian Hospital opened for service on July 14, 2015. A further 2.5-mile (4.0 km) segment from the Charlotte Transportation Center to French Street, and from Hawthorne & 5th to Sunnyside Avenue, opened for service on August 30, 2021.
9th Street is a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade dual side platforms are a stop along the Lynx Blue Line and serves Uptown Charlotte's First Ward as well as First Ward Park and the UNC Charlotte Center City Campus.
Charlotte Gateway Station is a future intermodal transit station in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Currently operating as a streetcar stop for the CityLynx Gold Line, with an adjoining bus station for Greyhound Lines intercity buses, it is the centerpiece of the overall 19-acre (7.7 ha) Station District, and it will serve Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus lines, the Lynx Silver Line light rail, Amtrak intercity trains. The district will also include parking facilities, mixed-use development and an elevated greenway. Estimated at a cost of $800.1 million for full implementation of all public and private components, the project will be built in three phases, with Amtrak service tentatively scheduled to start in 2026–2027.
Davidson Street is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on East Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line and serves various government agencies and facilities, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center (CMGC).
McDowell Street is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on East Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line and serves various government agencies and facilities, including the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.
CPCC Central Campus is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade dual side platforms on Elizabeth Avenue are a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line and serves Central Piedmont Community College.
Elizabeth & Hawthorne is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade dual side platforms on Elizabeth Avenue are a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line and serves the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Hawthorne & 5th is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on Hawthorne Lane is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line and serves Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Tryon Street is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade dual side platforms on West Trade Street are a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving Independence Square and the second largest financial hub of the United States.
Johnson C. Smith University is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on Beatties Ford Road is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving Johnson C. Smith University and Five Points.
Hawthorne & 8th is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on Hawthorne Lane is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving the Elizabeth neighborhood.
French Street is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on Beatties Ford Road is the western terminus of the CityLynx Gold Line and serves the Biddleville neighborhood.
Sunnyside Avenue is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on Hawthorne Lane is the eastern terminus of the CityLynx Gold Line and serves the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Mint Street is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on West Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building as well as several commercial and residential towers.
Wesley Heights is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on West Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving the Wesley Heights Historic District.
Bruns Avenue is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on West Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving the Seversville and Western Heights neighborhoods.
Irwin Avenue is a streetcar station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform on West Trade Street is a stop along the CityLynx Gold Line, serving Johnson & Wales University and Gateway Village.
