What’s behind the collapse of bus ridership in Charlotte?

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A Charlotte Area Transit System bus drives by uptown Charlotte.

Michael LoBiondo/City of Charlotte

For months, we’ve been hearing about problems with Charlotte’s bus system. Driver shortages have resulted in delayed or missed routes. Operators also have concerns about their safety.

Charlotte Area

Getting off the bus: CATS has plans to bring riders back after massive drop. Will it work?

Steve Harrison

The Charlotte Area Transit System lost 75% of its bus passengers since 2014. It says having new bus routes and more frequent service can bring them back.

Now, a WFAE special series finds that the Charlotte Area Transit System's bus troubles may be deeper than we knew. Ridership declined from a high of 23.9 million passengers in 2014 to only 5.9 million in 2022. That’s a 75% decline and one unmatched by any of the nation’s 50 other transit systems.

Charlotte Area

Getting off the bus: How Charlotte Transit lost 75% of its passengers in less than a decade

Steve Harrison

From 2014 to 2022, the Charlotte Area Transit System lost 75% of its bus passengers. That was the largest drop among the nation's 50 largest transit systems.

What’s going on? Where did all the riders go? And what does this mean for a city looking to expand transit and encourage people to ditch their cars? We have that conversation.

Guests

John Lewis, chief executive officer of the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)

Julie Eiselt, Charlotte mayor pro tem and at-large representative on Charlotte City Council. She chairs the Transportation & Planning Committee.

Steve Harrison, political reporter for WFAE. His two-part series "Getting off the bus" aired this week on WFAE.