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 lines5
Number of stations48
Annual ridership1.4 million
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
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 3 bus routes and 2 shuttle bus routes on a regular basis. Of the 5 routes, 3 run on weekdays 6:00 am to 2:00 am, with various shuttle and ParaTransit services on limited schedules. 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

Fleet Number [4] [5] OperatorBuilder 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
S32013
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
2101 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] [6]
2102
2103
2104
2111
2112
2113
21142007
2130
2131
2132
2133
S1UNC Charlotte PaTS Starcraft Allstar
Ford E-450
2009201922 ft (6.7 m)16Handicap Accessible
PARA1 VPG
MV-1
2017202315 ft (4.6 m)4Designated ParaTransit Vehicle. Replaced in 2023 by the Starcraft ProMaster 3500.
PARA2
CASSIBeepNavya Autonom2023202315.6 ft (4.8 m)9Part of an NCDOT pilot program that ran from July through December 2023. [8]

Routes

Active Routes

Niner Transit offers 5 routes on a regular basis, 2 Gameday-only bus routes, and prearranged ParaTransit & Charter services. [1] [9]

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
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. [10] [11] [12]

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

Sat - Sun:
11 am - 4 pm

ArcadiaIntroduced as temporary routes to assist students living off campus with access to the Student Union and main campus.
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

Holiday Inn Charlotte UniversityIntroduced to provide connect HRL students living in off-campus locations to main campus [13] [14] [15]
Sonesta Select Charlotte University Research Park
South Village Deck
Fretwell North
Student Union West
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
CASSIDecember 2023Mon - Fri:
8:30 am - 11:30 am, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Student Union WestPart of an NCDOT pilot program that ran from July through December 2023. Route Vehicle was autonomous. [8]
Student Union Deck
Light Rail East
Greek Village 1
Greek Village 8
Science Building
Red ExpressSpring 2025Mon - Fri:
9 am - 3 pm
Student Union EastOperated Fall & Spring semesters from 2019-2020 and 2022-2025. Operated in place of a fifth bus on the silver route.
Fretwell South
Fretwell North
Student Union West
Football Stadium/Gate 1

References

  1. 1 2 "Niner Transit Bus Service".
  2. Cuffe, Davis (May 30, 2024). "A guide to UNC Charlotte's on-campus transportation options". Niner Times.
  3. Ceballos, Jessica (January 8, 2023). "Gold bus line returns to UNC Charlotte". Niner Times.
  4. "Niner Transit Bus". Facebook .
  5. "Charter Bus".
  6. 1 2 "Brand new Niner Transit... - UNC Charlotte Auxiliary Services". Facebook .
  7. "Turning heads on campus... - UNC Charlotte Auxiliary Services". Facebook .
  8. 1 2 "Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation (CASSI) at UNC Charlotte" (PDF). www.ncdot.gov.
  9. "Parking Maps".
  10. "Temporary Niner Transit routes service off-campus apartments | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte". October 2, 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
  11. "Niner Transit Bus Service | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte". November 21, 2019. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019.
  12. "Niner Transit Bus Service | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte". February 25, 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019.
  13. "Fall 2022 transit and parking updates | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte". October 5, 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022.
  14. Parsi, Allyson (December 19, 2022). "Student shares experience living in UNC Charlotte expanded housing". Niner Times.
  15. "Fall 2022 Expanded University Housing | Housing and Residence Life". November 10, 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022.
  16. "Airport/Amtrak Shuttle available for holiday breaks | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte". November 18, 2022. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022.