The Charlotte Area Transit Systems is temporarily curtailing bus and light rail service as ridership plummets during the coronavirus crisis.

Starting Wednesday, CATS passengers can ride for free — but on much-reduced schedules. Ridership has fallen by up to 41%, the authority said Monday.

The Blue Line light rail service will follow a Sunday schedule, starting Wednesday.

Blue Line trains run every 7.5 minutes during weekday rush hours and every 15 minutes in non-peak times. Weekend service, which will be adhered to starting Wednesday, is every 20 minutes during the day and 30 minutes late at night.

Local bus service will run on a Saturday schedule from Monday through Saturday. They will continue their regular Sunday service on that day. The route 290-Davidson Shuttle will not run.

Express bus routes will operate two trips in the morning and two in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. Four express routes — 41X-Steele Creek, 61X-Arboretum, 65X-Matthews and 88X-Mountain Island — will stop operating.

Special Transportation Services for eligible riders will be limited to only life-sustaining trips, such as visits to medical facilities and grocery stores.

“By operating modified service, we’re able to continue providing our community access to essential daily needs, front-line jobs and medical services”, CATS chief executive John Lewis said in a statement. “We thank our riders for obeying the recommendations of officials and providing room on transit for those who serve us most.”

Between the weeks of March 2 and March 16, CATS said, ridership fell 58% on the Blue Line and 29% on buses.

Schedule modifications are at RideTransit.org. Riders with questions should email TellTransit@charlottenc.gov or call 704-336-RIDE (7433).

Sales of monthly passes have been suspended. Those who have already bought April passes can exchange them for another pass at some future date.

CATS began a contamination protocol, in addition to nightly cleaning, on March 3. Under the protocol, hard surfaces on vehicles are wiped down with a hospital-grade solution and all 42 light rail cars are treated with disinfectant antibacterial foggers.

Bus drivers and train operators have access to gloves, anti-bacterial hand gel and anti-bacterial soap. CATS asks that riders respect a six-foot social distance while aboard, and exit through rear doors to limit contact with drivers and operators.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 12:43 PM.