The current list of changes to the CATS system has been released and there are minimal changes. One of the changes we have been requesting be changed was finally approved after asking for this change for nearly 5 years. Route 17 will go another half mile along Independence Blvd. to the Windsor Square Shopping Center in Matthews instead of turning around at Crown Point Office Park. The bus will go to the Park and Ride Lot at Independence Pointe Parkway and turn around across the street from the Windsor Square Shopping Center. We have already been in touch with the Matthews Planning Division and NCDOT to request that crosswalks and crosswalk lights be installed on Independence so that those passengers wishing to go to Windsor Square will be able to have safe Crosswalks to get to the Shopping Center at Sam Newell Rd. and the road that crosses Independence Blvd. next to Chick-fil-a and Elliotts Barbecue. 

However, there are many, many more changes like this that can be made within the current CATS budget. CATS currently runs too many routes that duplicate service. The system is VERY centralized. We're still in a gas crisis and transit systems in major cities all over the country are decentralizing operations and streamlining their routes.

WHAT IS CHARLOTTE DOING? Trying to cut service on the routes and not improving service. One of the major cuts for February 2010 that we are adamantly opposed to happening is the cutting of service on a major route to the only HOSPITAL in the Southwest part of the county. CATS has done nothing to market this route, which has huge employers along the route. Instead, they are cutting service when they actually should be marketing to the area and INCREASING service. Thousands of people have an interest in riding this route, but CATS doesn't even offer service to serve the shifts for the hospital. While most of the hospital staff works shifts from 7 to 7, the last evening bus that departs Pineville going to town leaves at 6:40 PM, and passes the hospital before the shift ends. Thousands of people also work at Southpark Mall and Carolina Place Mall, yet there is no bus service to accommodate those who live along the route who have to work until 10 PM when the malls close. None of these people are able to use the bus to get to work because the bus times on the route simply to not meet their needs. I have talked with numerous people who use the bus in an emergency to get to work, but have to find another way home because the bus stops running way too early for them if they have to work past 6:30 PM.

On routes that are necessary, CATS is trying to cut back on times, yet they CONTINUE to duplicate buses on routes where more than one bus route runs the exact same routing.  

We have to follow the lead of Transit Systems all over the country and decentralize the CATS system. Bus routes need to avoid duplication. There needs to be common sense put into our route system. Buses should get to their destinations more quickly and not travel in circles mid route.

Let's face it. The current CATS system is broken. It needs fixing. We can not longer stand by and do nothing. The time to make changes is NOW!

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