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A number of changes are coming March 2 for riders of Charlotte Area Transit System local buses, express routes, the uptown-area Gold Rush line, and the Lynx light rail line.
CATS officials say the changes will help save $1.4 million this fiscal year and $4 million next year.
"We looked at the entire system, to achieve greater efficiences," said Larry Kopf, chief operations planning officer for CATS. "The lower-performing routes were streamline into other existing services."
Here are the changes:
LIGHT RAIL
The light rail service will operate every 10 minutes, from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 6:30 p.m. weekdays -- the peak times of service. Sunday service will run every 30 minutes in the early-morning and late-night hours, and every 20 minutes midday.
Other schedules are unchanged.
GOLD RUSH
Red Line: Service no longer will operate into the circle at the Double Tree Hotel, near Johnson & Wales University on West Trade Street. But service will continue on Trade Street in that area. Service will be every 15 minutes from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., and it will not operate past 6:30 p.m. No other changes are planned.
Orange Line: There will be no service south of Morehead Street.
EXPRESS
North Meck: Midday trips will operate from the Charlotte Transportation Center to the park-and-ride lot at Northcross in Huntersville. There will not be midday trips to Davidson.
LOCAL LINES
Ashley Park (Route 2): Service will operate on Mint Street, between Morehead Street and Summit Avenue. There no longer will be service on Morehead Street between Freedom Drive and Mint Street. Riders on that part of Morehead Street can use the Route 5 Airport instead.
Randolph Road (15): Service will not operate south of Sharon Amity Road, and trips to the Sherwood Forest area will be ended. Riders on Randolph Road, between Sharon Amity and Sardis roads, can use the Route 45X Carmel Road Express as an alternative on weekdays.
Clanton Road (25): Service no longer will run into the uptown area. Instead, the line will connect with the East/West light rail station, and riders can take the light rail line into uptown. In addition, Route 25 will be extended from the East/West light rail station to the Midtown area, serving Carolinas Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital.
Woodlawn/Scaleybark Crosstown (30): Service will operate to the Scaleybark light rail station, and not the Woodlawn station. Route 30 will operate on Scaleybark Road, instead of Woodlawn Road, between South Tryon Street and the Woodlawn/Scaleybark intersection.
In addition, Route 30 will be adjusted to provide service from the Scaleybark light rail station to Park Road Shopping Center and SouthPark Mall.
