Hop Aboard: Quick facts about the streetcar’s opening

Openingceremony

The Charlotte Area Transit System will hold an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the plaza at Time Warner Cable Arena. Dignitaries will include U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who, as Charlotte mayor, was a champion of the project, even amid skepticism.

The public can attend. Service starts at 1 p.m.

Free ride

The streetcar is free, with no ticket needed. If the city is able to build its second phase, scheduled to open in 2019, CATS will likely charge the equivalent of a local bus fare, which is now $2.20.

Hours

The streetcar runs 6 a.m.-11 p.m. on weekdays, except Friday when it ends at midnight.

Service on Saturday is 8 a.m.-midnight; Sunday service is 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Schedule

There is no published schedule. The streetcar operates alongside other vehicles and is subject to the same traffic signals and congestion as motorists. A streetcar arrives at each of 6 stations every 15 minutes during peak times on weekdays, from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m. The streetcar runs every 20 minutes at other times. A one-way trip should take 10 to 12 minutes.

This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Hop Aboard: Quick facts about the streetcar’s opening."