CATS installs upgraded bus shelter with solar lighting on Beatties Ford Road

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) installed a new bus shelter on Beatties Ford Road in north Charlotte.

According to CATS, the new bus shelter, near the Northwest School of Arts, is part of its Better Bus program- a systemwide effort to improve comfort, safety and accessibility with better amenities and infrastructure.

The new bus stop includes solar lighting, a USB phone charging port, a custom map case and a new trash bin. It also features a public art glass installation and an ADA-accessible pad.

“We’ve always viewed our bus stops as the front door to our agency,” Bruce Jones, Manager of Service Planning, said. “Through Better Bus, we’re making visible improvements that enhance safety, accessibility and the overall rider experience.” 

Contingent on voter approval of the proposed sales tax referendum, CATS plans to enhance more than 2,000 bus stops over the next decade through Better Bus. These upgrades include replacing shelters, adding solar lighting, benches and trash bins and ensuring all stops meet ADA standards. 

“Better Bus is about delivering on our promise to customers and the community,” Brent Cagle, CATS Interim CEO, said. “These upgrades are just the beginning of a larger effort to build a more reliable, accessible and enhanced transit network for our region.”

Additional shelter replacements and upgrades are scheduled throughout 2025 as CATS continues implementing the Better Bus plan.