Charlotte's Blue Line Light Rail will move to a Sunday service schedule through Dec. 31 due to a staff shortage caused by exposure to COVID-19.
CATS said that 12 employees attended a "private, non-work-related event" on Dec. 12, and one has since tested positive for the coronavirus. CATS is requiring all employees to quarantine for 14 days.
“Since the start of the pandemic, CATS has provided safe and uninterrupted transit service. This is due to the hard work and sacrifices of our staff,” CATS CEO John Lewis said in a news release. “I’m incredibly disappointed in the judgment of these employees. Their actions will temporarily impact the levels of service we can provide to our community. I ask all CATS employees, riders, and community members to please take this virus seriously.”
CATS said none of the employees is customer-facing, but "are critical to the safe operation of the rail system."
Among COVID-19 safety measures in place on the light rail are stringent cleaning protocols, and face masks required by passengers.
Full schedule information can be found here.