Cabarrus County Needs Better Transit Options Now More Than Ever

We are fortunate to live in a vibrant and growing area. But with growth comes challenges - transportation being near the top of the list. No one likes sitting in traffic, and many of the roads that we’ve relied on for decades are starting to feel inadequate. 

For our county and region to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population, our leaders must look into ways to expand, improve, and diversify our public transportation options. That is why I am glad that Kannapolis City Council reversed their decision to cut or amend certain routes for Rider Transit, and maintain the current route system through at least the next fiscal year. 

There may be ways to make Rider Transit more cost efficient, or to better optimize the routes. Agreeing to extend the partnership another year will give Kannapolis, Concord, and CK Rider the opportunity to look at those options, as well as microtransit or hybrid models. 

Our leaders are going to have to figure out how to move people across our county and region in a cost-effective and efficient way, otherwise there will only be more traffic on the roads and more strain on an infrastructure that is already stressed. Turning every blade of grass into a highway is not the answer. Plus, building roads is expensive and time-consuming.

I believe that the events of the last few months will make for a stronger and better Rider Transit, and I look forward to increased communication between our local governments.