By admin 
Most Mecklenburg County residents believe that Charlotte’s bus system and light rail line help reduce pollution and play a critical role in transporting people to work.
Yet most of those same residents never use public transport.
These are some of the results from the latest community survey commissioned by the Charlotte Area Transit System. CATS has been using an external research firm for years to conduct surveys among residents, riders and employees. Usually these are not shared publicly. Transit Time learned of their existence this spring and recently received a series of 2019 reports after requesting them under public records laws.
Perception of CATS is expected to be a major factor in the $25 billion regional transit plan that took shape this summer. That plan calls for building additional rail lines, improving bus service and putting money into street projects, much of which will be paid for by increasing Mecklenburg sales taxes. Voters would have to approve the plan, which is still awaiting action by the General Assembly.
Even after the recent CATS high-profile missteps and a administrative upheavalThe surveys show that public transit and transit riders have largely positive impressions of Charlotte buses and light rail.
But there are also some negative points. The public generally gives CATS low marks for perceived safety on buses and at transit stops. And CATS riders say they have less positive impressions of public transit than riders in other cities, while also saying they want more frequent service and more shelters at bus stops.
Here are some highlights:
Important to the community: Survey respondents broadly say they consider public transportation critical:
The poll shows that the public believes CATS serves an important purpose.
- 85% say CATS is a “valuable part of the community.”
- 79% say CATS “contributes to community success”
- 73% say it provides access to workplaces
- 79% say it provides affordable transportation options
- 76% say it provides mobility to low-income families
- 66% say it reduces pollution
- 61% say it reduces traffic congestion
Few passengers: However, most people surveyed do not ride buses or light rail. CATS passenger numbers have fallen by approximately 44% since their peak in 2014. According to the survey:
- 44% said they had never ridden CATS
- 7% said they used to ride it, but not anymore
- 34% said they ride it once a month or less
- 31% said CATS was personally valuable to them
Safety perceptions: Additionally, people who answered the survey question indicated safety concerns:
- 37% agreed with the statement: “CATS buses and trains are safe from crime”
- 29% agreed with the statement: “CATS stops and stations are safe from crime”
- 35% agreed with the statement that “CATS improves property values”
Transit plan favorite: The poll also asked residents about their perception of Charlotte’s emerging transit plan. About 75% said they had a “positive” or “very positive” impression of it. That is generally in line with other polls showing local residents in favor of increased funding for public transitalthough the poll questions typically do not ask about specific funding sources, such as higher taxes, which could dampen enthusiasm in the poll results.
The poll was conducted in May 2023 among 391 Mecklenburg residents. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.96 percentage points.
View the survey among Mecklenburg residents here.
satisfied but below average: A majority of bus passengers said they liked the service provided:
- 66% of bus drivers said they were satisfied with CATS service, although that is below the industry average of 80%
Looking for better service: The majority of bus riders said they would like more buses and more amenities at stops:
- 64% said they would like more frequent service
- 52% said they would like better timed transfers between shifts
- 51% said they would like more shelters at bus stops
- 39% indicate that they want more benches at bus stops
Essential: The majority of bus drivers say they rely on CATS for essential purposes:
- 57% of bus drivers say they use the bus to get to work, while another 8% say they use it for medical appointments
- 93% described themselves as ‘transit dependent’
- 58% indicated that they did not have a driver’s license
Demographics of bus drivers:
- 35% were 34 years or younger
- 62% were male
- 75% were black, 11% were white, and 5% were Hispanic
- At least 48% had an income of less than $50,000 per year (47% did not disclose their income)
Passenger perceptions: Light rail Satisfied and at an average level: A majority of light rail riders said they liked the service provided:
- 77% of light rail riders said they were satisfied with CATS service – right on the industry average (77%)
Looking for better services: The majority of train passengers indicate that they want more trains:
- 74% said they would like service more often
- 59% said they would like better-timed transfers between shifts
Demographics of train passengers:
- 58% indicate that they have a driver’s license
- 59% said they were 34 years old or younger
- 61% were male
- 57% were black, 25% were white and 12% were Hispanic
- At least 43% had an income of less than $50,000 per year (33% did not disclose their income)
The personal survey was conducted in November 2023 among 1,129 bus drivers and 548 train passengers who were driving or waiting for public transport.
View the survey among bus and train travelers here.
The studies were conducted by TransPro, a research agency specialized in transit agencies. Transit Time requested them under North Carolina’s public records law in May and received them in October.
The Charlotte City Council in May approved a contract with Hickory-based Jackson Insight for annual CATS survey research, which “will be used to identify issues and areas where transit services need to be improved and/or better communicated.” The projected annual cost is estimated at $232,000.
Tony Mecia is editor-in-chief of The Charlotte Ledger. Reach him out [email protected].