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Nov 02, 2024

CATS leaders discuss cracking down on light rail free-riders

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Just because it costs money for a light rail ticket, doesn’t mean everyone does so. At last week’s Metropolitan Transit Commission meeting, Mecklenburg County

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Just because it costs money for a light rail ticket, doesn’t mean everyone does so.

At last week’s Metropolitan Transit Commission meeting, Mecklenburg County leaders discussed making efforts to verify that Blue Line riders have paid for tickets. A one-way ticket on Charlotte Area Transit System buses and rail is $2.20; an all-day pass is $6.60.

“I’m looking to see more enforcement on the Blue Line,” said MTC Board Chair Leigh Altman. “The bus riders are definitely paying to access the bus. It seems really unfair that the people riding the trains are paying at a much lower rate than the people riding the bus.”

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CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle says that turnstiles aren’t feasible due to the open nature of the stations, but there are ways to help understand the problem.

“When you have light rail at grade or streetcar, closing the station is very difficult, if not impossible, because the alignment is open,” he explained. “Where you see closed-off systems is in subways where the line is not accessible. It would continue open system, with the idea that we would do more to combat fare evasion.”

He says that validation systems are becoming more popular at transit systems across the country and would be an option to explore. Riders buy tickets on their phone, then before getting on the train, there’s equipment on the platform to scan the ticket to become active.

While the technology would not stop riders from hopping on for free, it would tell CATS how many are doing so.

“There is a concern that it slows down the process as you go and validate the ticket,” Cagle said. “We think it’s very minimal impact operationally.”

Altman compared the free-riding to littering.

“There is messaging, PSA and culture we could create to become more robust for social shaming to do something that is really wrong,” she said.

Altman also noted the difference in socio-economic level between many of the light rail riders traveling between uptown and South End versus those who take the bus.

“We want to support their ability to get around town,” she said. “I do not support, folks who live in South End riding the Blue Line not paying to get on it. People who ride the bus can’t get on the bus without paying.”

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Cagle explained the nature of the bus encourages paying more. However, the bus operators aren’t asked to force people to pay if they don’t have the money.

“If that happens over and over, then the operator would contact their supervisor, after numerous instances of fare evasion and deal with customers directly,” he said. It’s not the operators’ responsibility to collect the fare, even on buses. If someone can’t pay, doesn’t pay, they’re to focus on operating the bus.”

Cagle said once CATS has a new security contractor, there will be more fare enforcement.

The Gold Line streetcar is free to ride, but Cagle said he hopes to implement a fare in the future.

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