Niner Transit

Last updated
Niner Transit
UNC Charlotte Niner Transit XD-40.png
Overview
Area served University City (Charlotte, NC)
Transit type
Bus
Number of lines6
Number of stations48
Website https://pats.charlotte.edu/transportation/niner-transit-bus-service
Operation
Began operationAugust 2017
Operator(s) Academy Bus Lines & UNC Charlotte Parking and Transportation Services
Number of vehicles20

The Niner Transit bus system is an area bus service serving the students, staff, faculty, and general public on and around the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since it began operations in 2017, Academy Bus Lines and the University have split operations, with Academy operating traditional bus services and the University operating student-only shuttles and paratransit services. [1] [2]

Contents

Currently, Niner Transit operates 4 bus routes and 2 shuttle bus routes on a regular basis. Of the 6 routes, 3 run on weekdays 6:00 am to 2:00 am, with an express route running from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and various shuttle and ParaTransit services. On weekends, the Green and Silver routes are the only routes that provide service, running from 9:00am to 2:00 am. [3]

Fleet

As of March 2025, Niner Transit's fleet consists of 12 transit buses, 5 shuttles, and 3 ParaTransit vans, with vehicles ranging in production years from 2011 to 2023. Despite utilizing vehicles as old as 2011, Niner Transit's operators, Academy Bus Lines and UNC Charlotte's PaTS, ensure that all vehicles are well-maintained and kept in excellent working condition.

UNC Charlotte's Niner Transit bus 2411 operating the Gold Route NinerTransit2411.jpg
UNC Charlotte’s Niner Transit bus 2411 operating the Gold Route
UNC Charlotte's Niner Rides Paratransit Van NR2 NinerTransit NinerRides2.jpg
UNC Charlotte’s Niner Rides Paratransit Van NR2

Active Fleet [4] [5]

Fleet NumberOperatorBuilder and
model name
Year BuiltLengthSeatsNotes
2401 Academy Bus Lines New Flyer Industries
XD-40
201840 ft (12 m)36Entered Service in March 2018. [6]
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
S2UNC Charlotte PaTS Starcraft Allstar
Ford E-450
201122 ft (6.7 m)16Handicap Accessible
S3
S4
S5 Starcraft Allstar XL
Ford F-550
201328 ft (8.5 m)26Handicap Accessible
S6
NR1 Starcraft ProMaster
Ram 3500
202320 ft (6.1 m)8Designated ParaTransit vehicle
NR2
NR3

Former Fleet

Fleet NumberOperatorBuilder and
model name
Year BuiltExited ServiceLengthSeatsNotes
2102 Academy Bus Lines Nova Bus
LFS
2006201840 ft (12 m)35Entered service in Summer 2017 and were replaced by the New Flyer XD-40 buses. [7] [8]
2103
2111
2113
21142007
2131
2132
unknownunknown
unknown
PARA1UNC Charlotte PaTS VPG
MV-1
2017202315 ft (4.6 m)4Designated ParaTransit Vehicle. Replaced in 2023 by the Starcraft ProMaster 3500.
PARA2

Routes

Active Routes

Niner Transit offers 6 routes on a regular basis, 2 Gameday-only bus routes, and prearranged ParaTransit & Charter services. [9] [10]

RouteHoursStops
GreenMon - Fri:
6 am - 2 am

Sat - Sun:
9 am - 2 am

Light Rail West
Belk Hall
Student Union East
Auxiliary Services
Fretwell South
Cato Hall South
Robinson Hall South
Reece West
Cone Deck
Alumni Way East
South Village Deck
Gage Undergraduate Admissions
Robinson Hall North
Cato Hall North
Fretwell North
Student Health North
FM/PPS
North Deck
SilverMon - Fri:
6 am - 2 am

Sat - Sun:
9 am - 2 am

CRI Deck
Duke Centennial Hall
EPIC South
Athletics Complex East
Student Union East
Auxiliary Services
Student Health North
Martin Hall
Lot 6
Lot 5A
East Deck 2
Fretwell North
Klein Hall
Student Union West
Athletics Complex West
EPIC North
Grigg Hall
BATT Cave
PORTAL
Red ExpressMon - Fri:
9 am - 3 pm
Student Union East
Fretwell South
Fretwell North
Student Union West
Football Stadium/Gate 1
GoldMon - Fri:
6 am - 2 am
Light Rail East
Student Health East
Fretwell South
Cato Hall South
Robinson Hall South
Levine Hall
Hunt Hall
Alumni Way West
Reece East
Robinson Hall North
Cato Hall North
Fretwell North
Klein Hall
Student Union West
Student Union Deck
Greek Village

Shuttle

Fall/Spring
Mon - Fri:

7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Student Union West
Greek Village 1
Greek Village 8
Greek Village 4
Klein Hall
Shopping ShuttleFall/Spring
Wed - Fri:

4:45 pm - 9 pm
Levine Hall
Hunt Hall
Light Rail East
Martin Hall
Patel Brothers
Target
Harris Teeter
Football NorthGAMEDAY ONLYFootball Stadium/Gate 1
Student Union East
North Deck
Light Rail West
Football SouthGAMEDAY ONLYFootball Stadium/Gate 1
West Deck South
South Village Deck
Gage Undergraduate Admissions
Cato Hall North
Student Union West
Niner ParatransitMon - Fri:
7 am - 12 am
Prearranged Service
(54 stops)

Former Routes

Throughout the years, Niner Transit has offered various different shuttle and bus services. Several routes have been altered to shift changes in demand, while other routes have been created to temporarily assist in the mass transportation of students. [11] [12] [13]

RouteLast OperatedHoursStopsNotes
Blue
(Temporary)
2020Mon - Fri:
10 am - 5 pm

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

ArcadiaIntroduced as temporary routes to assist students living on campus with access to the Student Union
Aspen 1
(Monument Hill Rd.)
Aspen 2 (Epic Run)
Student Union East
Orange
(Temporary)
2020Mon - Fri:
10 am - 5 pm

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

University Crossings
Haven 49/University Walk
University Village 1
(Mine Shaft Ln.)
University Village 2
(University Village Blvd.)
The Mill
Student Union West
Pink - A
(Temporary)
2020Mon - Fri:
10 am - 5 pm

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

49 North/Millenium One
The Edge
Student Union West
Pink - B
(Temporary)
2020Mon - Fri:
10 am - 5 pm

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

The Union
Boulevard 98
The Edge
Student Union West
Gold2019Mon - Fri:
6 am - 2 am
Light Rail EastRoute was modified & several stops were removed or replaced
Police/FM
Hickory Hall
Fretwell South
Cato Hall South
Robinson Hall West (South)
Levine Hall
South Village (Hunt Hall)
Alumni Center West
Foundation Building
Cone Deck
Reece East
Robinson Hall East (North)
East Deck
Fretwell North
PaTS
Student Union West
Belk Hall
Copper2020Mon - Fri:
7 am - 9:15 pm
Light Rail WestIntroduced to maintain access to the Foundation Building with the removal from the Gold Route
West Deck South
Alumni Center South
Foundation building 1
Foundation building 2
Alumni Center North
Levine East
Reece West
West Deck North
Student Union East
Purple
(temporary)
2022Mon - Fri:
11 am - 10 pm

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

Various off-campus hotels and residence hallsIntroduced to provide connect HRL students living in off-campus locations to main campus [14] [15]
Amtrak/Airport Holiday ShuttleJanuary 2023Mon - Sun:

8 am 11 am 2 pm 5 pm

Levine HallOffered only during Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break [16]
Hunt Hall
Light Rail East
Martin Hall
Charlotte Douglas Airport
Charlotte Amtrak Station

References

  1. https://pats.charlotte.edu/transportation/niner-transit-bus-service/
  2. https://www.ninertimes.com/arts_and_culture/a-guide-to-unc-charlottes-on-campus-transportation-options/article_f3329964-1012-11ef-b5b9-879e98b5d526.html
  3. https://www.ninertimes.com/news/gold-bus-line-returns-to-unc-charlotte/article_96c7a408-8f0d-11ed-a6f5-5370a49be349.html
  4. https://www.facebook.com/share/15Hi5nGBo4/
  5. https://pats.charlotte.edu/transportation/charter-bus/
  6. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AFBsfhD5g/
  7. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18bckQtQzi/
  8. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AFBsfhD5g/
  9. https://pats.charlotte.edu/transportation/niner-transit-bus-service/
  10. https://pats.charlotte.edu/parking/parking-maps#football
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20221002012312/https://pats.charlotte.edu/news/temporary-niner-transit-routes-service-campus-apartments
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20191121150020/https://pats.uncc.edu/transportation/niner-transit-bus-service
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20190225202233/https://pats.uncc.edu/transportation/niner-transit-bus-service
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005183335/https://pats.charlotte.edu/news/fall-2022-transit-and-parking-updates
  15. https://www.ninertimes.com/news/student-shares-experience-living-in-unc-charlotte-expanded-housing/article_4dc8df62-79d5-11ed-985a-ff3cd975981b.html
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20221118130642/https://pats.charlotte.edu/airport-shuttle