CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you're thinking of taking the light rail or street car this weekend, think again. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is suspending service to make routine upgrades.
And while the outage is inconvenient for those who like to ride the rail, officials say it's all about making a more efficient experience in the long run.
CATS is trying to make rail service more reliable, but it comes at a cost. Let's connect the dots.
Each year, CATS shuts down the Blue and Gold lines for an entire weekend. The agency uses the time to make preventative and routine maintenance behind the scene. It's an important step for an industry that's had a tough year when it comes to reliability.
CATS is already dealing with a huge labor shortage, which led to a drop in train frequency and delays for buses. The city of Charlotte announced Thursday that CEO John Lewis will leave his post at the end of November, something other city leaders said was "a long time coming."
CATS wants to make sure this weekend's maintenance prevents any other issues from stopping service. That's why it is doing work now to save a potentially devastating commute later.
This weekend, rail service will end at 2 a.m. Saturday. It will pick back up just in time for Monday's morning commute.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.