Let's move people, not just cars! At the August meeting of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), delegates from throughout Mecklenburg, Union, and Iredell Counties approved a list of transportation projects that will receive state funding between 2016 and 2025. Click here to read our blog post about the upcoming transportation projects that our local leaders voted to support!

Instead of holding our Monthly Mixer at The Liberty next Tuesday, we're encouraging all to attend the unique Mayoral Candidates Forum! Join us for this fantastic #‎ShakeUpCLT event with #‎WTFwevote and Charlotte Agenda! Each candidate for Mayor of Charlotte is to select 20 images that represent their vision of the future of Charlotte, PechaKucha* style. As the images are presented, each candidate will have approximately 5-7 uninterrupted minutes to speak. They can present their vision, share their platform, or tell their personal story. This event will be held at the McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square (345 N. College Street) from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Tickets are now sold out, however, you can click here to be added to the wait list.

We are currently seeking sponsors and raffle prize donations for our 1st Annual BIKETOBERFEST on October 17! Many thanks to our Presenting Sponsors Triple C Brewing and Crescent Communities and Gold Sponsor UNC Charlotte Center City! If you are interested in sponsoring or donating a raffle prize, click here for more information and contact Jordan Moore at [email protected] We hope you will take advantage of these great opportunities to gain visibility for your small business, company or non-profit organization!

Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come! Help us do more by becoming a Sustain Charlotte member today for as little as $3/month -- that's one cup of coffee! Click to learn how easily you can support our mission and your community via membership:

Streetcar Ridership Exceeds Projections!

"Charlotte's new streetcar averaged 1,507 passenger weekday trips in July, which exceeds the Charlotte Area Transit System's (CATS) estimates for the line," according to The Charlotte Observer. CATS chief executive John Muth stated, "exceeding initial ridership projections demonstrates the public's continued embracement of rail transit and their support for more transportation choices". Click here to read more. This is great news! We are thrilled the Gold Line is being widely utilized and exceeding expectations!

Charlotte to Columbus: Investing in Transit Key to Growth

According to this article in Columbus Underground, "Charlotte, North Carolina opened its first light rail line in November of 2007, a nine-mile stretch of rail extending south from downtown on which ridership soon soared. Work is now underway on extending that line...Previous to those improvements, Charlotte also completed a large expansion of its bus network. Paving the way for all of this transit investment was the approval of a half-cent sales tax by Charlotte voters in 1998. That vote provided the funding to implement a wide-ranging vision – laid out in the 2025 Integrated Land Use and Transit Plan – that also includes additional light rail, streetcar, and Bus Rapid Transit lines that have yet to be built." Click here to read a great interview with Bob Morgan, President and CEO of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, sharing the story of how Charlotte came to embrace transit as a key investment in our future. 

Campaign Calls for Solar Schools in Durham and Charlotte

According to NCSC, "North Carolina charity NC GreenPower is already testing a program to raise money for solar schools. Now a new campaign backed by 30 environment and education groups is aiming to give clean energy and education a helping hand. Specifically, Repower Our Schools...is calling on Durham Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg to pass resolutions that call for 100% renewable energy for their school systems." Click here to read more. We are so happy that Charlotte is embracing this great opportunity that will not only make our city more sustainable, but will also allow students to learn about the value of renewable energy and its sustainability!

A Neighborhood Living Room Is Coming to South End 

Have you heard about Varian Shrum‘s idea to create a neighborhood living room in South End? In this Q&A article in Charlotte Agenda, Varium Shrum says "I’ve been inspired by things like Food Truck Friday and PARKing Day, which use simple activations to temporarily turn underutilized spaces into special places where people want to congregate. When I learned about the K880 Emerging City Champions program I decided to try this kind of 'Tactical Urbanism' in my own neighborhood of South End, which needs more public space. The term 'Neighborhood Living Room' seemed to capture the vibe I wanted to create: a comfortable place where people could gather and connect." Click here to read more. It's so great to see residents working together to create a sense of community! Initiatives like this are sure to contribute to a more sustainable Charlotte!

Why Walkability Matters 

In this article by The American Conservative, it is said that "there are vast blankets and folds of the country where the ability to walk -- to open a door and step outside and go somewhere or nowhere without getting behind the wheel of a car -- is a struggle, a fight. A risk." Click here to read more. This is why we formed the Transportation Choices Alliance. Our residents deserve the basic freedom to walk safely!

September 17: CROWN's New Season Kick Off Meeting

7:00pm - 8:00pm @ McClintock Middle School, 1925 Rama Road, Charlotte, NC 28212. This is a very special evening that will showcase the Charlotte Chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. The program will feature just a few of CROWN's key regional partners who, along with CROWN, are dedicated to making the greater Charlotte/Mecklenburg region a healthy, sustainable, and wildlife friendly place to live, work and play. Join us for this great opportunity to learn more about how Sustain Charlotte and other local organizations are working to protect the natural environment! Click here to read more. 

September 18-20: ThinkPlenty Unconference

@ UNC Charlotte PORTAL Building, 9201 University City Blvd Charlotte, NC 28223. ThinkPlenty is a three-day conference that brings together thinkers and doers, friends and neighbors, entrepreneurs and innovators who will rapidly build and prototype solutions to alleviate hunger and increase food access in Charlotte. Click here to read more and to RSVP.

October 6-7: Making Energy Work Conference

@ Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601. NCSEA's Making Energy Work Conference is the setting for collaboration to move our clean energy economy forward. It is an opportunity to learn about the next in clean energy, network with clean energy leaders, and identify solutions that advance our clean energy economy. Click here for more information and to register.

* October 15-17: The 2015 NC Bike Summit to be Held in Charlotte *

@ UNC Charlotte - Center City Building, 320 E 9th St. Charlotte. Registration is Now Open! The 2015 NC Bike Summit promises to be packed full of information useful to  bicycle advocates, transportation planners, business owners, elected officials, tactical urbanists, public health practitioners, and livability and sustainability professionals. Sustain Charlotte is proud to be the local host for this event. 

* October 17:  Sustain Charlotte's BIKETOBERFEST *

Following the 2015 NC Bike Summit, Sustain Charlotte will be holding our very first Biketoberfest -- an event that will bring together biking enthusiasts and 'newbies' alike in a city-wide celebration! Interested in aligning your organization with this event? Click here for sponsorship information and to learn more. Tickets will be on sale soon!

MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS