Charlotte's Streetcar Ridership Tops Projection
SOURCE: MCCLATCHY
Aug. 25--Charlotte's new streetcar averaged 1,507 passenger weekday trips in July, which exceeds the Charlotte Area Transit System's estimates for the line.
Before the Gold Line opened, CATS said it estimated the 1.5-mile streetcar would carry 1,100 passenger trips. The transit system's official projection to the federal government was that it would handle 900 passenger trips.
The transit system said that August ridership appears to be similar to July ridership.
"Exceeding initial ridership projections demonstrates the public's continued embracement of rail transit and their support for more transportation choices," said CATS chief executive John Muth in a statement.
When counting ridership, CATS counts a passenger trip as one person getting on a train or bus one time. A person who takes a round-trip would be counted as two passenger trips. ..................(more)
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