MONROE, N.C. — The Charlotte Area Transit System is hosting public meetings this week to discuss the discontinuation of an express bus route between Charlotte, Indian Trail and Monroe.
The route, known as 74X Union County Express, is set to end on September 30.
Citing decreasing ridership and the financial cost to run the service, Union County commissioners voted to end the service during an April 17 meeting.
74X Union County Express Public Meetings:
- Tuesday, June 6, 6 – 7:30 a.m., Monroe Crossing Mall Park and Ride
- 2115 Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110
- Wednesday, June 7, 6 – 7:30 a.m., Union Towne Center Park and Ride
- 5850 E. Hwy 74, Indian Trail, NC 28079
- Wednesday, June 7, noon, virtual via CATS’ YouTube
The route has operated since 2004 as a partnership between Union County and CATS. Union County and CATS evenly split the costs.
At one point, the route provided three daily round trips and even offered continuing service to Marshville. Most recently, the Marshville stop had been eliminated and the bus operated twice daily in each direction.
County commissioners in the April meeting expressed interest in eliminating the service and thus freeing up additional funding for proposed microtransit, which provides on-demand requests for rides.
One of the proposed alternatives considered combining the route with the existing 65X Matthews Express. Commissioners ultimately decided to eliminate the route altogether.
CATS has been reviewing designs for the proposed Silver Line light rail line, which if built, would run between Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Uptown Charlotte, and Matthews. For plans for that line could extend it into Indian Trail in Union County.