Bus service provider, CATS, discontinued several microtransit routes in northern Mecklenburg. Here's the explanation behind the move
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is planning to expand its rideshare-style public transit program, CATS Micro, to 19 additional parts of Mecklenburg County. This expansion is contingent on the approval of a proposed sales tax increase for transportation projects, which voters may vote on in the fall of 2025.
Currently, CATS Micro operates as an on-demand, shared-ride service primarily in the northern part of the county, covering areas such as Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and the Northlake Mall area. Launched as a pilot in February 2025, the program replaced several low-ridership northern bus routes to serve areas where traditional bus service was inefficient.
Key aspects of the expansion plans include the microtransit service not replacing heavily trafficked or popular bus routes, which remain the backbone of Charlotte’s transit system. Instead, CATS Micro acts as a first-mile/last-mile connector, helping riders reach the main bus or train lines or their final destinations.
The program has recently expanded, with services from the Village Rider and Davidson Shuttle routes transitioning to CATS Micro as of July 7, 2025. If approved, the proposed expansion would see CATS-branded minivans replacing buses for public transit in these areas.
Riders can order a van to pick them up at their current location and drop them off at a destination of their choosing, much like Uber, using the CATS-Pass app or by calling 704-336-7433. The cost of using CATS Micro remains the same as a bus ride, at $2.20 per passenger per one-way trip.
CATS Micro is intended to help people who need public transit but don't live in areas with a bus or train line. The service currently runs from Davidson to the north through Cornelius, Huntersville, and the Northlake Mall area to the south, operating longer hours than the former bus routes, with weekday hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekend hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
It's worth noting that the affected bus routes, including the North Mecklenburg Village Rider (serving routes 97, 98, and 99) and the Davidson Shuttle (serving route 290), have been discontinued. CATS has deployed community engagement teams to inform riders about the change.
Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult, and children aged 8 and under require a car seat or booster seat. The future expansion of microtransit depends heavily on voter approval of the sales tax increase proposed for transportation funding.
In summary, CATS Micro is expected to grow significantly soon, contingent on public funding approval, with an emphasis on expanding coverage to more areas with lower existing transit options without replacing the core bus network.
The expansion of CATS Micro, a microtransit service in Charlotte, may include replacing buses with CATS-branded minivans in 19 additional parts of Mecklenburg County, if the proposed sales tax increase for transportation projects is approved by voters in the fall of 2025. Currently, the program operates as a shared-ride service, acting as a first-mile/last-mile connector, helping riders reach the main bus or train lines, and costs the same as a bus ride.
