CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Hundreds of people spilled out onto light rail platforms in Uptown Charlotte Sunday morning, in anticipation of the Carolina Panthers game.
For many of them, it was their first time riding the Blue Line since the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.
Charlotte city leaders met Friday, outlining safety improvements the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) intended to make, including new strategies against fare evasion.
Ken Branham drove up from Lexington, South Carolina, to attend the game with his son. As Branham considered whether to take the light rail, Zarutska’s murder was on his mind.
“We felt like the city or whoever probably took measures to make sure that doesn’t continue to happen,” Branham said. “I will say when we sat down, he sat on one side, I sat on the other. I watched his back, he watched my back, so never can be too careful.”
On their way to the game Sunday morning, WBTV spoke to light rail riders who said they didn’t see any security.
“Well, I felt safe,” Derrick Chambers, visiting from South Carolina, said. “I didn’t notice any guards and I didn’t see anyone checking tickets.”
Branham was surprised he didn’t see as much security as he’d expected.
“I kind of thought on the way up here we might see guards or something like that on the rail, so, to not see that, it was a little disappointing,” Branham said. “Just kind of thought it would be there.”
CATS has prioritized adding private security, bike patrols, and UTV’s to its transit system.
City and transit leaders said more initiatives to improve safety and limit fare evasion will be discussed and announced in the coming weeks and months.
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