Keep Charlotte Beautiful with the Adopt-A-Stop Program
Published on August 26, 2025
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) relaunched the Adopt-A-Stop program – a volunteer-powered cleanup initiative focused on the Corridors of Opportunity across Charlotte. In partnership with Keep Charlotte Beautiful, this program makes it easy (and rewarding) to help keep bus stops clean and welcoming for everyone.
It’s Simple: You Pick the Stop, You Show it Love
Here’s how it works:
Anyone can “adopt” a CATS bus stop in one of Charlotte’s corridors. You commit to cleaning it twice a month for two years and that’s it.
You bring the bags, you pick up the litter and you make a difference. It’s free to join and counts toward community service hours.
While anyone can adopt-a-stop, CATS especially encourages businesses to participate and rally their employees as a team for group clean-ups.
Why Adopt-A-Stop?
- You help keep your city cleaner.
- Volunteers earn hours and feel good doing good.
- Businesses build stronger ties to the community.
- It’s simple, meaningful and makes Charlotte transit better for everyone.
“Adopt-A-Stop is a volunteer-driven initiative aimed at keeping Charlotte’s bus stops clean and litter-free,” said Keith Sorensen, CATS Transportation Planner. “This relaunch will extend our reach even further. Eventually, we hope to expand to every bus stop in the CATS bus network.”
Now Expanding Across More Corridors
Since launching in 2023, Adopt-A-Stop has logged:
- 355 volunteer hours.
- 118 bags of trash collected.
- 27 adopted stops (and growing!)
Originally launched along Freedom Drive, Beatties Ford Road, Wilkinson and West Boulevard corridors, the program is now growing into more areas – including Tuckasegee, Monroe, and Park Road, NoDa and Belmont.
All participating stops are located in Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity, but the long-term goal is to expand Adopt-A-Stop across the entire bus network.
“Since 2023, Adopt-A-Stop volunteers have given hundreds of hours toward making a positive environmental impact,” said Jonathan Hill, Executive Director of Keep Charlotte Beautiful. “I’m excited to see what a difference we can make as this program expands to more neighborhoods throughout Charlotte.”
Sign Up and Get Started
Ready to adopt your stop? Sign up by clicking the button below.
Adopt a stop today!
For more information about the Adopt-A-Stop program, applying or the cleanup process, email Keep Charlotte Beautiful at kcb@charlottenc.gov or call 704-432-4802