Charlotte’s transit system is smaller and more car-oriented than most cities its size, but it covers the parts of town a visitor actually needs: Uptown, the light rail corridor, and the airport. One agency — CATS — runs the bus network, the light rail line, and a free streetcar, and one fare works across almost all of it.
The basics
CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System), a City of Charlotte department, runs everything:
- LYNX Blue Line — the light rail spine, running through Uptown with I-485 as one of its two travel directions.
- CityLYNX Gold Line — a streetcar looping 4 miles through 17 stops, from French St. in the Historic West End through Center City to Sunnyside Ave. in the Elizabeth neighborhood. It’s currently fare-free.
- Buses — Local, Express, Express Plus (regional), and neighborhood Community Shuttle routes, plus the Sprinter (Route 5) to the airport.
- CATS Micro — an on-demand microtransit service in select zones.
- STS — ADA paratransit for riders who can’t use fixed routes.
How to pay
You’ve got three ways to pay:
- CATS-Pass app — buy a ticket, then activate it right before you board. Tickets bought in the app cost the same as at a machine.
- Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) — found at every light rail platform and other pass sale locations.
- Exact cash in the farebox — but this only works on buses. All fares are posted on the farebox as you board.
Light rail is different: cash isn’t accepted at all. You need a ticket from a TVM or the CATS-Pass app before you board the Blue Line — it runs on a proof-of-payment system, and fare inspectors do check.
If you need a transfer, ask the driver when you pay — it isn’t automatic. Transfers are good for 105 minutes and are free, unless you’re moving up to a pricier service tier (Local to Express, for example), in which case you pay the difference.
Fares
| Adult | Senior (62+) / ADA-disabled | K-12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local bus & rail, one-way | $2.20 | $1.10 | $1.10 |
| Local day pass | $6.60 | $6.60 | $6.60 |
| Local weekly pass | $30.80 | $30.80 | $30.80 |
| Local monthly pass | $88.00 | $44.00 | $88.00 |
Reduced fares require a valid Transit ID or Medicare card. A few routes cost more: Community Shuttle rides are $0.90, Express buses are $3.00 one-way ($121/month), and Express Plus regional routes are $4.40 one-way ($176/month).
Fare capping works only through the CATS-Pass app: buy $88 in eligible local fares in a calendar month (one-way, day, or weekly tickets bought through the app all count) and CATS automatically adds a local monthly pass to your wallet — the rest of the month rides free. It resets on the 1st.
Riding without a valid ticket or pass can get you a $50 citation, and on the light rail it can rise to a Class 3 misdemeanor charge.
Getting from the airport
Take the CATS Sprinter (Route 5 Airport), which connects Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Uptown’s Charlotte Transportation Center, with connections to the LYNX Blue Line along the way. If you’re coming from the Blue Line directly, Route 60 Tyvola Road also reaches the airport from the Tyvola light rail station.
Sprinter is a standard CATS bus route, so it uses the same $2.20 local fare as everywhere else — pay with exact cash or the CATS-Pass app. CATS advertises Sprinter as running every 30 minutes, but hasn’t published an official one-way travel time, so check the CATS-Pass app for your specific departure. Route 60 Tyvola Road also runs every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
Apps to download
- CATS-Pass — the official app: buy and activate tickets, track buses, trains, and the streetcar in real time, plan trips, and use fare capping.
- Google Maps — solid for basic trip planning with live CATS data built in.
When it runs
The CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar runs every 30 minutes: weekdays 6am–11:26pm, Saturdays 8am–11:26pm, and Sundays 8am–10:36pm.
CATS doesn’t publish one system-wide timetable for the Blue Line and bus network — hours and frequency vary by route, so check the CATS-Pass app for your specific trip. Several major holidays (New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve) run on a Saturday schedule; Thanksgiving and Christmas Day run on a Sunday schedule.
Accessibility
CATS buses and the LYNX Blue Line are equipped with lifts or ramps for boarding. Riders who can’t use fixed-route service because of a disability can apply for STS, CATS’ door-to-door ADA paratransit — it covers the area within ¾ mile of existing routes, and eligibility requires an application, interview, and sometimes a functional assessment. STS+, a non-ADA-mandated expansion, also serves the Mint Hill area. Visitors already certified for ADA paratransit in their home city can ride CATS STS for up to 21 days a year. Call 833-656-7699 to apply or schedule a trip.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Ask for your transfer when you pay — the driver won’t offer it automatically, and it isn’t printed unless you request it.
- The Gold Line streetcar is free right now — a low-stakes way to try Charlotte transit before you commit to a ticket.
- Fare inspectors patrol the Blue Line. Keep your ticket or pass until you’ve exited the train.
- Let riders exit before you board, on both the bus and the rail.
Good to know
- No cash on light rail. If you’re arriving without the app or a ticket already loaded, look for the Ticket Vending Machine on the platform before the train arrives.
- Fare capping only counts CATS-Pass app purchases — a ticket bought at a TVM won’t count toward your $88 monthly cap.
- Holiday schedules run thinner. Confirm your route isn’t on a reduced Saturday or Sunday schedule before a holiday trip.