By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com

A ride on light rail or a Charlotte Area Transit System bus will cost more starting Thursday.

Fares will climb from $1.50 to $1.75 for local routes and the light-rail line, and increases will average 16.7 percent for Express and other fares.

In addition, CATS made changes to a number of its routes, putting those new wrinkles in action this week.

Revenue from Mecklenburg County sales taxes has lagged during the recession, CATS officials say.

"The fare increase was needed for CATS to maintain the core transit services currently provided to our customers," said CEO Carolyn Flowers, who added that the transit system's fares compare favorably to other urban systems.

The last CATS fare increase was in October 2008.

Passengers riding in-county Express routes will pay $2.40, up from $2. Those riding Express routes that travel outside Mecklenburg County will pay $3.50, a hike of 50 cents.

A weekly pass will cost $17.50, up from $15. A monthly pass will go for $70, a $10 increase. A monthly Express pass will cost $93, up from $80.

Transfers from local routes or light rail to an Express route will go up from 50 cents to 65 cents.

The route changes, meanwhile, were made to accommodate construction or demand, according to CATS officials. Those changes:

• North Tryon (Route 11): Minor changes, due to construction of the U.S. 29/N.C. 49 connector project.
   
• Commonwealth (Route 17): Saturday service will be extended to the Matthews-Independence Pointe Park and Ride lot, across from the Windsor Square shopping center.
   
• Graham Street (Route 22): Saturday and Sunday service is extended to the Prosperity Church Senior Center.
  
  
• Union County Express (Route 74X): Service to Marshville has been discontinued.
  
  
• Mountain Island Express (Route 88X): Service no longer runs to Lincoln County.
  
  
• Charlotte trolley: Weekend service is discontinued. CATS officials say the light-rail line is the alternate.

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