CATS

City Mulls Ads At Light Rail Stations

Julie Rose — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:52:34 +0000

Perhaps it's hard to believe, but giant billboards on the sides of Charlotte buses and trains only appeared about a year ago when the city started allowing ads on transit vehicles. Now the Charlotte Area Transit System wants to go even further.

Monday night, CATS will petition city council members for permission to sell advertising on light rail platforms. CATS Spokeswoman Jean Leier says the recession hurt transit funding.

Light Rail To UNC Charlotte Gets $580 Million Federal Boost

Julie Rose — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:03:02 +0000

Charlotte officials say this gift from the Federal Transit Administration is the single largest federal grant the city's ever received: $580 million.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff traveled from D.C. to bring news of what city leaders have expected for several months now.

That hasn't always been the case, though.

"This project was on life support back in 2009," says Mayor Anthony Foxx.

Final Funding For Blue Line Extension Expected In 30 Days

Julie Rose — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:01:57 +0000

Extending the light rail from Uptown to UNC Charlotte will cost just over $1 billion. That price tag has contributed to the project's sometimes on-again-off-again status as local, state and federal funds tighten.

But Danny Rogers - the Blue Line Extension's project manager for the city - says all the funding is nearly in place.

"Right now we're just waiting on the full-funding grant agreement - FTA recommended and has approved it, pending the congressional review," says Rogers.

Commission Considers Request To Block CATS Alcohol Ads

Marshall Terry — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:43:38 +0000

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Metropolitan Transit Commission will consider a request to reverse its decision allowing alcohol ads on the sides of buses and trains. Consider, yes. But actually rescind the decision? Not likely.

“I wouldn’t support changing the position,” says MTC member and Cornelius mayor Jeff Tarte.

CATS Says Alcohol Ads Will Be Thoroughly Vetted

Lisa Miller — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:59:14 +0000

In just a few days alcohol ads will debut on Charlotte Area Transit System buses and trains. Those ads have gone through an additional review to make sure they don't cross the line.

Alcohol ads are expected to earn the cash-strapped transit system $600,000 annually. CATS has already signed two six-month contracts to promote alcohol on city buses and trains.

But the money comes with a challenge. The last thing CATS wants is an overly racy ad on a bus that winds through every neighborhood in the city.

Bus Association Tries To Stop DNC From Chartering CATS Buses

Lisa Miller — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:54:20 +0000

The group that represents hundreds of private bus companies wants to prevent the Charlotte Area Transit System from leasing out its buses during the DNC.

Thousands of delegates and media will be hopping on buses to get from their hotels to the main convention area. DNC organizers expect it will take about ~~250~~ 450 buses to get people around. But they found they don't have enough buses to accommodate wheelchairs.