5 Things to Know: CATS Unveils Plans for Bus Service Improvements

CATS Unveils Plans for Bus Service Improvements

While area elected officials and transportation leaders did discuss implications for the city’s light rail program as part of the 30-year transit plan during Wednesday’s Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) meeting, CATS also gave a look at its new Better Bus plan, which aims to vastly improve the city’s bus service by making bus trips quicker while expanding coverage, among other things.

Though implementation of the Better Bus plan has begun in its preliminary stages, new improvements will be reliant on funding from a one-cent sales tax increase that city leaders hope to put on the ballot for Mecklenburg County voters in the fall.

Projected to increase CATS bus service by 50% in its first five years with a scheduled completion date inside of Fiscal Year 2031, the Better Bus Plan was built using recommendations from the ongoing Envision My Ride: Bus Priority Study.

As was published in a report in late 2024 then presented to the MTC this week, the Better Bus plan is centered on the creation of a new Better Bus Network that hopes to accomplish four main goals: make bus service easier to access and utilize, improve bus services in communities with limited mobility options, make bus trips faster, and improve access to communities and cross-town connections.

Part of that plan involves the launch of CATS Micro, which Queen City Nerve reported on earlier this week. Other parts of the Better Bus plan would expand bus coverage in Mecklenburg by more than 38 square miles, or 26%; make four additional grocery stores easily accessible by low-income and minority populations; and improve 10 to 15 routes by 20 minutes or better.

“The Better Bus program shared at this week’s meeting is the most exciting proposal we’ve seen for dramatically improving the bus system,” wrote Lauren Sawyers, spokesperson for Sustain Charlotte, in a statement following the meeting. “It’s not only exciting but also realistic because the plan is fiscally constrained (under the scenario of the new sales tax being adopted).

“While rail service often gets the bulk of the public’s attention, buses are the true backbone of every public transit system — including CATS,” she continued. “Buses carry more passengers and can go places that rail can’t reach. This investment would be a powerful tool for economic mobility. Compared to other community investments, public transit is unparalleled in improving people’s access to jobs, education, health care, shopping, and other daily destinations.”

Read more about Sustain Charlotte’s views on the plan at their website.

Charlotte City Council will discuss its transit options in Asheville this week during its annual retreat, though all four scenarios the city has put on the table include equal funding for Better Bus, which amounts to 20% of revenue from the sales tax increase.

DoorDash Driver Charged in Uptown Shooting

WSOC’s Joe Bruno first reported that a man accused of shooting and killing a teenager in Uptown’s Fourth Ward on Wednesday evening told investigators he was delivering food for DoorDash when the teen tried to steal his car.

According to a CMPD report, officers responded to a shooting call on West 8th Street at around 6:30 p.m. and found 15-year-old Matthias Crockett dead from multiple gunshot wounds. They arrested the 27-year-old alleged shooter at the scene and charged him with murder.

According to Bruno’s reporting, the suspect told investigators that he had just dropped food off at someone’s door when he saw Crockett get into his car with intent to drive off. Assuming Crockett and another person he saw standing behind the car might have had weapons, the driver pulled his own gun and opened fire, killing Crockett.

It’s unclear if Crockett or anyone at the scene besides the shooter had a gun, as the affidavit and DA’s office give conflicting reports. The suspect currently remains in custody with no bond.

Two Anticipated Restaurants Announced in Charlotte

Two new restaurants announced upcoming openings in Charlotte this week, with one coming from a locally beloved restaurant group and another from a Denver-based group bringing a renowned chain to the Queen City.

Built On Hospitality (The Goodyear House, Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails, Chief’s) on Thursday announced its newest restaurant, Mazi, will open in February in South End. Owned by Troy Brewer and Hemant Patel, the restaurant will be located at 1300 South Blvd., Suite 101-F.

According to a release, Built On Hospitality partner and executive chef Chris Coleman is developing a menu of Mediterranean mezze and small plates to pair with fine spirits by Bob Peters and a Mediterranean-focused wine list curated by Built On Hospitality wine steward Rob Oldenburg.

Announced Wednesday, renowned Denver-based modern steakhouse Guard & Grace will open a new location in the Queensbridge Collective development in Uptown. From TAG Restaurant Group and led by chef Troy Guard, the 10,224-square-foot venue on the 10th floor of 1111 South Tryon is expected to open in mid-2026.

The Charlotte location of Guard and Grace will be the third for the award-winning modern steakhouse, joining the flagship in Denver, which opened in 2014, and the Houston location, which debuted in 2019. The menu will feature prime beef selections, fresh seafood, house-made charcuterie and seasonal vegetarian dishes paired with an extensive wine collection and cocktail program.

Alyson Craig Named New Assistant City Manager

The city of Charlotte announced Friday that Alyson Craig has been promoted to assistant city manager. Craig will replace Tracy Dodson, who announced her departure for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance in December.

Craig was previously the Charlotte Planning, Design & Development director, having joined the city in 2018, and that department will be placed under her purview now along with economic development and Charlotte Water. She will serve as the interim Economic Development Director while the search for a new director continues and will also continue to lead the CLT Development Center.

Craig played a large role in forming and implementing the Charlotte 2040 Policy Map and Unified Development Ordinance. She has also served on the Corridors of Opportunity Director’s Team to help lead implementation of that program.

“During the past several years, the City of Charlotte has successfully completed a number of important projects that will help guide the future of our city and in many cases, Alyson Craig has helped lead the development and implementation of those programs, including the Unified Development Ordinance and the 2040 Policy Map,” wrote Charlotte City Manager Marcus D. Jones in a statement on Friday.

“Throughout her time with the city she has demonstrated strong leadership, dedication to our community and a commitment to collaboration. Her experience in both the public and private sectors will help ensure that the City of Charlotte continues to grow smartly and with purpose.”

Motorcyclist Who Caused Deadly Crash Was Impaired, Police Say

Investigators suspect that a motorcyclist was impaired when he caused a wreck in east Charlotte that killed him and a teenage passenger in another vehicle early Sunday morning .

According to CMPD, shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, first responders were called to a motor vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of East W.T. Harris Boulevard and Hickory Grove Road, where they located a red 2012 Ford Fusion and a red 2017 Yamaha FZ-09 motorcycle with heavy damage in the middle of the intersection. Officers located the operator of the motorcycle, 25-year-old Anthony Ayala, lying unresponsive in the middle of the roadway. Medic pronounced Ayala dead at the scene.

Read more: Tracking Vehicle-Related Deaths on Charlotte Streets in 2024

Two passengers of the Ford, a 20-year-old man and a 10-year-old juvenile, were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Another passenger in the Ford, 14-year-old Roberto Emanuel Ortiz, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and subsequently pronounced dead. The driver of the Ford did not report any injuries.

An initial investigation indicated that Ayala was driving southbound on East W.T. Harris Boulevard at an extremely high rate of speed when he collided with the Ford Fusion, which was attempting to make a left turn onto Hickory Grove Road from the northbound lanes of Harris Boulevard. Speed and impairment are suspected factors in the wreck for Ayala, and neither are factors for the driver of the Ford.