CATS to improve I-77 bus rapid transit experience with new 500 space park and ride

Charlotte Area Transit System is designing a 500-space surface lot off Hambright Road in Huntersville .

Why it matters: At the Hambright Park and Ride, between Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road and I-77, bus passengers will park their cars and then take speedy and uninterrupted bus rides down the interstate toll lanes to Uptown.

• The site will also act as a hub where bike and pedestrian amenities meet and where riders can call microtransit , an Uber-like service that CATS plans to offer soon.

Between the lines: The hub parallels the future Red Line commuter train's route. CATS leaders see that project, once labeled a pipe dream , as closer to becoming a reality .

• Bus rapid transit has some advantages over rail, although it's perceptually less sexy, due to its lower costs and flexibility over a fixed train line.

The big picture: Hambright is one of the areas that's seen more development since the Red Line was first envisioned.

• A 70-acre development called Town 1 will bring more than 700 multi-family units and 419,000 square feet of commercial space to the area.

What's next: The design phase will continue through next year. The park and ride will be built between July 2025 and December 2026, opening by 2027.

• CATS has three other new parks and rides planned along the bus rapid transit route: Westmoreland, Davidson and Langtree.

Go deeper: Huntersville traffic will get worse before it (maybe) gets better