Niner Transit is a zero-fare bus service serving the students, staff, faculty, and general public on and around the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since it began operations in July 2017, Academy Bus Lines and the University provide year-round service, with Academy operating traditional bus services and the University operating student-only shuttles and paratransit services.
Currently, Niner Transit operates 3 bus routes and 2 shuttle bus routes on a regular basis. Of the 5 routes, 3 run on weekdays 6:00 am to 2:00 am, with various shuttle and ParaTransit services on limited schedules. On weekends, the Green and Silver routes are the only routes that provide service, running from 9:00am to 2:00 am.
As of March 6, 2026, Academy Bus Lines’ original contract that was expected to end June 30, 2027, has been extended to June 30, 2028.https://evp.nc.gov/_entity/annotation/f3042b46-d8f6-f011-8407-001dd803db57/863ea987-6d3e-ed11-9daf-001dd805ec0b?t=1772852584832https://evp.nc.gov/_entity/annotation/17bc481d-a219-f111-8341-001dd812e0a9/863ea987-6d3e-ed11-9daf-001dd805ec0b?t=1772852026371
Fleet As of February 2026, Niner Transit's fleet consists of 13 transit buses, 8 shuttles, and 3 ParaTransit vans, with vehicles ranging in production years from 2011 to 2025. Despite utilizing vehicles as old as 2011, Niner Transit's operators, Academy Bus Lines and UNC Charlotte's PaTS, ensure that all vehicles are well-maintained and kept in excellent working condition.
Active Fleet Fleet numberOperatorBuilder andmodel nameYear builtLengthSeatsNotes 2401 Academy Bus Lines New Flyer IndustriesXD-40 2018 36 Entered Service in March 2018. 2402 2403 2404 2405 2406 2407 2408 2409 2410 2411 2412 S2 (2nd) UNC Charlotte PaTS Starcraft AllstarFord E-450 2025 13 Handicap Accessible S3 (2nd) S4 (2nd) 22 S5 Starcraft Allstar XLFord F-550 2013 26 Handicap Accessible S6 30 NR1 Starcraft ProMaster Ram 3500 2023 8 Designated ParaTransit vehicle NR2 NR3
Spare Fleet Fleet numberOperatorBuilder andmodel nameYear builtLengthSeatsNotes S2 (1st) UNC Charlotte PaTS Starcraft AllstarFord E-450 2011 13 Handicap Accessible. Replaced from regular service in 2025 by new buses. S3 (1st) 2013 S4 (1st) 22
Future Fleet Fleet numberOperatorBuilder andmodel nameYear builtLengthSeatsNotes (15 Buses) TBD New Flyer IndustriesXD-40 2028 37 Buses will be procured by new contractor, and will be owned by university at the conclusion of contract. Will enter service July 1, 2028. https://evp.nc.gov/_entity/annotation/f3042b46-d8f6-f011-8407-001dd803db57/863ea987-6d3e-ed11-9daf-001dd805ec0b?t=1772852584832
Former Fleet Fleet numberOperatorBuilder andmodel nameYear builtExited ServiceLengthSeatsNotes 2101 Academy Bus Lines Nova BusLFS 2006 2018 35 Entered service in Summer 2017 and were replaced by the New Flyer XD-40 buses. 2102 2103 2104 2111 2112 2113 2114 2007 2130 2131 2132 2133 2501 New Flyer IndustriesXD-40 2013 2026 38 Utilized as a spare, for charters, and for training from January 2026 through June 2026 before transferring to Rutgers University. S1 UNC Charlotte PaTS Starcraft AllstarFord E-450 2009 2019 15 Handicap Accessible PARA1 VPGMV-1 2017 2023 4 Designated ParaTransit Vehicle. Replaced in 2023 by the Starcraft ProMaster 3500. PARA2 PARA3 CASSI Beep Navya Autonom 2023 2023 11 Part of an NCDOT pilot program that ran from July through December 2023.
Routes Active Routes Niner Transit offers 5 routes on a regular basis, 2 Gameday-only bus routes, and prearranged ParaTransit & Charter services. Additionally, the University also operates the "49er ColdRush" Route during snowdays.https://web.archive.org/web/20260123232259/https://charlotte.passiogo.com/
Route Hours Stops Green Mon - Fri:6 am - 2 am Sat - Sun:9 am - 2 am Light Rail West Belk Hall Student Union East Auxiliary Services Fretwell South Cato Hall South Robinson Hall South Reece West Cone Deck Alumni Way East South Village Deck Gage Undergraduate Admissions Robinson Hall North Cato Hall North Fretwell North Student Health North FM/PPS North Deck Silver Mon - Fri:6 am - 2 am Sat - Sun:9 am - 2 am CRI Deck Duke Centennial Hall EPIC South Athletics Complex East Student Union East Auxiliary Services Student Health North Martin Hall Lot 6 Lot 5A East Deck 2 Fretwell North Klein Hall Student Union West Athletics Complex West EPIC North Grigg Hall BATT Cave PORTAL Gold Mon - Fri:6 am - 2 am Light Rail East Student Health East Fretwell South Cato Hall South Robinson Hall South Levine Hall Hunt Hall Alumni Way West Reece East Robinson Hall North Cato Hall North Fretwell North Klein Hall Student Union West Student Union Deck Greek Village Shuttle Fall/Spring Mon - Fri:7:30 am - 5:30 pm Student Union West Greek Village 1 Greek Village 8 Greek Village 4 Klein Hall Shopping Shuttle Fall/Spring Wed - Fri:4:45 pm - 9 pm Levine Hall Hunt Hall Light Rail East Martin Hall Patel Brothers Target Harris Teeter Football North GAMEDAY ONLYFootball Stadium/Gate 1 Student Union East North Deck Light Rail West Football South GAMEDAY ONLY Football Stadium/Gate 1 West Deck South South Village Deck Gage Undergraduate Admissions Cato Hall North Student Union West Niner Paratransit Mon - Fri:7 am - 12 am Prearranged Service(54 stops) 49er ColdRush Snowdays:9 am - 7 pm Light Rail East Student Health East Fretwell South Cato Hall South Robinson Hall South Main Entrance Traffic Circle Robinson Hall North Cato Hall North Fretwell North Student Health North FM/PPS Light Rail West
Former Routes Throughout the years, Niner Transit has offered various different shuttle and bus services. Several routes have been altered to shift changes in demand, while other routes have been created to temporarily assist in the mass transportation of students.
Route Last Operated Hours Stops Notes Blue(Temporary) 2020 Mon - Fri:10 am - 5 pm Sat - Sun:11 am - 4 pm Arcadia Introduced as temporary routes to assist students living off campus with access to the Student Union and main campus. Aspen 1(Monument Hill Rd.) Aspen 2 (Epic Run) Student Union East Orange(Temporary) 2020 Mon - Fri:10 am - 5 pm Sat - Sun:11 am - 4 pm University Crossings Haven 49/University Walk University Village 1(Mine Shaft Ln.) University Village 2(University Village Blvd.) The Mill Student Union West Pink - A(Temporary) 2020 Mon - Fri:10 am - 5 pm Sat - Sun:11 am - 4 pm 49 North/Millenium One The Edge Student Union West Pink - B(Temporary) 2020 Mon - Fri:10 am - 5 pm Sat - Sun:11 am - 4 pm The Union Boulevard 98 The Edge Student Union West Gold 2019 Mon - Fri:6 am - 2 am Light Rail East Route was modified & several stops were removed or replaced Police/FM Hickory Hall Fretwell South Cato Hall South Robinson Hall West (South) Levine Hall South Village (Hunt Hall) Alumni Center West Foundation Building Cone Deck Reece East Robinson Hall East (North) East Deck Fretwell North PaTS Student Union West Belk Hall Copper 2020 Mon - Fri:7 am - 9:15 pm Light Rail West Introduced to maintain access to the Foundation Building with the removal from the Gold Route West Deck South Alumni Center South Foundation building 1 Foundation building 2 Alumni Center North Levine East Reece West West Deck North Student Union East Purple(Temporary) 2022 Mon - Fri:11 am - 10 pm Sat - Sun:11 am - 4 pm Holiday Inn Charlotte University Introduced to provide connect HRL students living in off-campus locations to main campus Sonesta Select Charlotte University Research Park South Village Deck Fretwell North Student Union West Amtrak/Airport Holiday Shuttle January 2023 Mon - Sun: 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm Levine Hall Offered only during Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break Hunt Hall Light Rail East Martin Hall Charlotte Douglas Airport Charlotte Amtrak Station CASSI December 2023 Mon - Fri:8:30 am - 11:30 am, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Student Union West Part of an NCDOT pilot program that ran from July through December 2023. Route Vehicle was autonomous. Student Union Deck Light Rail East Greek Village 1 Greek Village 8 Science Building Red Express Spring 2025 Mon - Fri:9 am - 3 pm Student Union East Operated Fall & Spring semesters from 2019-2020 and 2022-2025. Operated in place of a fifth bus on the silver route. Fretwell South Fretwell North Student Union West Football Stadium/Gate 1
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