Where does CATS go from here?
It’s not an enviable predicament to be in. Charlotte’s transit system, which is enjoying record levels of ridership due in part to the introduction of the LYNX light rail line, must now cut service due to a decrease in revenue from the county’s 1/2 cent sales tax. Beginning next month, CATS will run rush-hour rail service every 10 minutes (as opposed to 7.5) and “streamline” bus service to cut costs.
So what happens next? CATS has a 2030 master plan calling for an extension of light rail to the northeast (and UNC Charlotte, a 20,000+ student campus), commuter rail to Lake Norman and Iredell County, Bus Rapid Transit or Light Rail to the southeast down Independence Blvd, and streetcar service to West Charlotte and the Center City. While it’s likely (we hope) that the recession will not last permanently, this drop in revenue will delay any future capital construction in the future.
Two sources of federal funding may give Charlotte a needed boost in both capital and operational funding. The first is the American Recovery and Reinvestment act. According to the Federal Transit Administration (HT: The Transport Politic), CATS is slated to recieve roughly 20.8 million dollars in formula based capital assistance. Nonetheless, WFAE reported this morning (see previous post) that the transit agency still faces a 2.5 million dollar shortfall.
Currently, it looks like the Commuter Rail will open up first, but that may change depending on funding. We’ll have a clearer picture of this come April. At this point, if sales tax revenue (which makes up roughly 65 percent of CATS revenue) continues to decline as a result of the recession, these projects could be put on the shelf unless outside funding (such as the transportation reauthorization bill coming before Congress this spring) rescues it.
February 28, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Do you have any idea what you speak of? If you referenced the WFAE blog you should focus on the fact that CATS is spending money for folks to drive and park their cars for free… The heavy rail north is a complete boondoggle in too many respects to mention here. There is an opening on a board for those who wish to make a difference, rather than blog about it.