CATS Host Grand
Opening of New Cornelius Park and Ride Facility
Charlotte, N.C. – Today, CATS hosted a grand opening
celebration of a new park and ride facility in the Town of Cornelius.
The facility, located at Sefton Park Road and One Norman
Place, has 354 parking spaces including eight handicap accessible spots and two
motorcycle spots. The facility also includes a bus operator comfort station,
rider shelter, benches, two emergency blue light phones, bike racks and
provides pedestrian access to main thoroughfare.
CATS broke ground on the approximately $5 million Cornelius
park and ride facility in fall 2016. Funded in part through a Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant from the United States Department
of Transportation, the new facility gives another transit option for commuters
in the I-77 corridor.
“The opening of another park and ride facility in the I-77
corridor means that we are providing transit options to more citizens than
ever,” noted CATS Chief Executive Officer John Lewis. “We are taking more cars
off the road as we continue to expand our region’s transit network”.
Local artist Ivan Toth Depeña collaborated with project
architects on the bus operator’s comfort station. They employed a modern
building shape that integrates an awning with colorful art glass to provide
shelter for bus riders. The blue and green colors echo the colors of Lake
Norman while shades of orange connect back to the Carolina clay beneath the
surface.
The Cornelius park and ride facility will be open to riders
of the Route 48X Huntersville Express and 77X North Mecklenburg Express on July
5. For information on the 48X and 77X, call CATS Customer Service at 704-336-RIDE(7433).
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