Fares & Passes

CATS serves a 675-square-mile area with a population of more than 1.3 million. The fleet includes 234 fixed-route buses, 85 paratransit vehicles and 48 light rail vehicles operating across 22.6 miles of track.

For information on fare types and prices, view the charts below. To find pass sale locations, select the following link: Pass Sale Locations

Local Bus and Rail fares
Type Adult Seniors 62 or Medicare Card ADA-Disabled K-12
One-Way $2.20 $1.10 $1.10 $1.10
Day Pass Unlimited Rides $6.60 $6.60 $6.60 $6.60
Weekly Unlimited Rides $30.80 $30.80 $30.80 $30.80
Monthly Unlimited Rides $88.00 $44.00 $44.00 $88.00
10-Ride $22.00 $9.35 $9.35 $22.00
Community Shuttle Fares
Type Adult Seniors 62 or Medicare Card ADA-Disabled K-12
One-Way $0.90 $0.45 $0.45 $0.45
Express Bus Fares
Type Adult Seniors 62 or Medicare Card ADA-Disabled K-12
One-Way $3.00 $1.50 $1.50 $1.50
10-Ride $30.00 $30.00 $30.00 $30.00
Monthly Unlimited Rides $121.00 $60.50 $60.50 $121.00
Express Plus - Regional Fares
Type Adult Seniors 62 or Medicare Card ADA-Disabled K-12
One-Way $4.40 $2.20 $2.20 $2.20
10-Ride $44.00 $44.00 $44.00 $44.00
Monthly Unlimited Rides $176.00 $88.00 $88.00 $176.00
CATS STS
Type Cost
One-Way $3.50
10-Ride $35.00
Monthly Unlimited Rides $140.00
Service Transfer Fares
Service Transfer Transfer Fare
Local to Express $0.80
Local to Express Plus $2.20
Express to Express Plus $1.40
From Community Shuttle to Local $1.30
From Community Shuttle to Express $2.15
From Community Shuttle to Express Plus $3.50
From Community Shuttle to Community Shuttle FREE

Things to note for the table above: You must ask for a transfer when you pay your fare. Transfers must be used within 105 minutes or on the next connecting bus. Neighborhood shuttles connect at community transit centers with mainline routes or at a Blue Line station where transfers can be used. Transfers are not given to those boarding uptown except to those on Route 29 and 30.

Guidelines

Half Fares

People 62 years and up, people with disabilities, with Transit ID or Medicare Card. Customers purchasing and riding with a Senior or Disabled ticket must be prepared to provide a valid Medicare card or Transit ID.

Youth/Students

Youth in grades K - 12 with a valid Transit or Student ID - 7 days a week. Children 12 and under are to be accompanied by an adult. Children 5 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult and ride free.

To learn about the type of transit IDs that CATS offers, select the button below. 

Transit IDs

Round-Trip Tickets

The first ride, the ride away from the station where the ticket was purchased, has to be completed within ninety minutes. After ninety minutes, a patron can no longer use that ticket to ride away from the station where the ticket was purchased. If a fare inspector finds a patron riding away from the station of purchase outside the ninety minute window, that person could be subject to a citation. The second ride, back towards the station of purchase, can be taken any time before the end of the service day in which the ticket was purchased.

Payment

Commuter Checks

The Charlotte Area Transit System does accept Commuter Checks. In an effort to better serve you, we ask that you adhere to these guidelines.

  • A Commuter Check is redeemable for transit passes and tokens.
  • A customer with a Commuter Check may only purchase up to 8 passes at one time.
  • Commuter Checks can only be redeemed at the Charlotte Transportation Center Pass Sales and Information Center.
  • If you purchase passes that cost less than the value of your Commuter Check, the difference cannot be returned as change, only tokens or pass protectors.
  • If you purchase passes that cost more than the value of your Commuter Check, you must make up the difference with cash, personal check, VISA or Master Card.
  • You must use your Commuter Check before it expires. CATS will not accept a Commuter Check after its expiration date.
  • CATS will not exchange Commuter Checks for cash.
  • Handle your Commuter Check with care. It will not be accepted if it is worn, torn or has been tampered with.

Fare Evasion

CATS' Fare Inspectors and Police Officers will check for valid tickets and passes aboard the Blue Line. Remember to keep your ticket handy until exiting at your final destination. Customers purchasing and riding with a senior/disabled or youth/student ticket must provide a valid Medicare Card or transit id. Failure to possess a valid ticket or pass could result in a citation of $50 and you may face a Class 3 misdemeanor charge. If you received a citation from CATS you can learn more about paying or appearing your citation by selecting the button below.

Transit Citation Payment

Proof of Payment

The Blue Line operates as a proof of payment fare collection system. You must possess a ticket or pass with a valid date and time in order to ride. A valid monthly or weekly pass is also considered as proof of payment. 10-ride passes and STS yellow tickets are not valid on CATS services.

Opportunities

Is your organization interested in providing passes to employees or clients? Learn more about CATS' Transportation Demand Management program, its benefits and steps to get started.

Transportation Demand Management

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