If you value our work in the community to improve Charlotte's transportation network, please help us raise $7,500 by Nov. 29! 

 For every $150 we raise, one car will be removed from the road and the driver will take a seat on the bus!

Your donation for GivingTuesdayCLT will support the work we do every day to make it safer and easier to get around Charlotte via bike, foot, and transit. 

Why is this important? Because more transportation choices in our community will not only reduce traffic congestion, but will also provide YOU with more ways to get to work, school and social activities all while benefiting the environment, your health, and your wallet!

We've raised $430 towards our goal so far. Once we reach $1,000 we'll receive another $1,000 in matching funds from OrthoCarolina! Will you help us get there TODAY?

Donating time and goods will contribute to our goal, too! Visit givingtuesdayclt.org to pledge volunteer hours or give a gift via our Amazon wish list that will directly support our events and initiatives! 

Many thanks to our generous donors for their recent donations!

CONGRATULATIONS to Joy Bunch, winner of yesterday's $20 Epicentre restaurant gift card! She shared a photo of a bus stop near W Tyvola and Yorkmont Rd with no sidewalk. 

We're in need of several volunteers to help us pass out flyers next week! 

Last week, we launched Walk2Transit -- our newest initiative that gives a voice to bus riders and transit advocates. A voice that will result in tangible improvements to the walkability of Charlotte's highest need bus stops. 

Will you help us spread the word about this important initiative by passing out flyers at Uptown's transit center and bus stops? 

WHEN: Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (Nov. 28 - 30), anytime between 4:00pm - 6:00pm.
WHERE: Meet at the Sustain Charlotte office (135 Brevard Court, suite B).

*All volunteers will receive a free Sustain Charlotte t-shirt!*

Please reply to this email if you're available to volunteer on any of the above days!

Attend a community workshop on Charlotte's new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)!

The City of Charlotte is updating our land use policies and development ordinances. This comprehensive effort - Charlotte Place Types & Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) - will shape the future growth of our city. 

Come lend your voice and learn more about these efforts by joining one of the upcoming workshop discussions. Each workshop is the same; simply choose the one that is most convenient for you.

Click here to view workshop times and to register!

The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) needs YOUR feedback on two important draft plans!

1) Transportation Action Plan: Take the survey to provide feedback here!

2) Charlotte WALKS Pedestrian Plan: Take the survey to provide feedback here!

These two plans are a key part of the framework to keep Charlotte moving in the face of tremendous growth pressure. Thanks in advance for your feedback and support!

Why Are Citizens Measuring Air Quality in Charlotte? [Charlotte Five]

"Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, according to a News & Observer article. Today, data supply by the states to the EPA remains incomplete and inaccurate and it is getting worse with cuts in many state agencies; NC DEQ suffers some of the deepest cuts...This is where Clean Air Carolina (CAC) steps in to make a difference. Over the summer of 2016, they launched the citizen science Clean Air Zones monitoring efforts in Charlotte: individuals obtain hand-held air quality monitoring equipment from AirBeam and AirCasting, which measures particulate matter (PM) in real time."Air Quality is one of those topics most of us don't think much about until things go wrong. Here's an insightful Charlotte Agenda story about the valuable role that citizen scientists play in monitoring Charlotte's air quality through a Clean Air Carolina program.

9 Ways the Blue Line Light Rail Extension Will Totally Reshape Optimist Park [Charlotte Five]

"Just northwest of Uptown, between I-277 and Matheson Avenue sits Optimist Park. Optimist Park is home to some of Charlotte’s favorite low-key destinations, like Birdsong Brewing Company, Abari Game Bar, the original NoDa Brewing, and Area 15...Starting next year, the Lynx Blue Line light rail extension will also call it home, with stops at Parkwood Avenue and Brevard Street, as well as at 25th Street at Brevard Street. The Charlotte Department of Transportation is planning a full revamp of Parkwood Avenue to make it more pedestrian friendly, including improved sidewalk connectivity with surrounding streets." Well-designed public transit holds the power to transform communities that invest in it. We can hardly wait for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Blue Line Extension to open next year! 

Parks: Not Just for Picnics [CNU.ORG]

"For generations, parks were viewed simply as an amenity, a way to beautify a city. [But] as cities around the world continue their growth, the role of parks is shifting. Parks are no longer seen as something nice to have, but rather as a vital system within the city’s overall network of infrastructure. These hard-working public spaces are probably the biggest untapped resource for cities in this century. Why? Livable, sustainable cities must balance density with open space for the health of their residents, their environments, and their economies." Beyond their recreational and environmental value, urban parks can generate huge returns on investment for the communities that love them! As Charlotte grows, we need to protect quality green spaces even in the densest parts of the city.