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Thank You, MTC: Celebrating 27 Years of Transit Leadership and Looking Ahead

On May 27, 2026, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) held its final meeting (view it here), bringing to a close 27 years of leadership, collaboration, and public service dedicated to improving transportation across Mecklenburg County.

The meeting was both a reflection on the MTC’s legacy and a look toward the future of transit governance in our region.

Throughout the meeting, commission members and transit leaders celebrated the accomplishments of the MTC, which has helped guide Charlotte’s transit system since 1999. Over nearly three decades, the commission played a central role in advancing transit investments, overseeing the growth of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), supporting the opening and expansion of rail service, improving bus operations, and laying the groundwork for the next generation of regional transit projects.

At Sustain Charlotte, we’re deeply grateful to the many elected officials, transportation professionals, staff members, and community leaders who served on the MTC over the years. Their commitment helped create a stronger, more connected region and improved access to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity for thousands of residents.

The final meeting included several important updates and actions.

The Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) reported on recent public feedback, including comments from community advocates supporting proposed Red Line stations at West Craighead Road and North Graham Street. Speakers, including representatives from community organizations and Sustain Charlotte, highlighted the stations’ potential to improve mobility, advance environmental justice goals, support economic development, and increase access to jobs, healthcare, and educational opportunities.

CATS Interim CEO Brent Cagle provided operational updates showing continued progress across the transit system:

  • Bus on-time performance reached 85 percent for the sixth consecutive month, marking the strongest sustained performance since 2021.
  • CATS also reported growing demand for microtransit services, which experienced a 156 percent increase in ridership compared to April 2025.
  • While Blue Line ridership declined during a period of major track construction, staff emphasized that the work is necessary to maintain and improve long-term reliability.

One of the most significant actions of the evening was the unanimous approval of an updated fare policy as part of CATS’ Fare Modernization Program. The changes will modernize the customer experience by introducing new payment methods, electronic fare validation, expanded fare capping, simplified fare structures, and improved reduced-fare programs. The modernization effort was shaped by extensive public engagement and was broadly supported by riders and community members, though CATS also acknowledged the importance of ensuring equitable access for cash-paying riders and individuals without smartphones.

The meeting also marked the formal transition from the MTC to the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA), which will assume responsibility for regional transit governance moving forward.

Several speakers reflected on the importance of this transition. Leaders praised the bipartisan and collaborative spirit that characterized the MTC’s work and recognized the contributions of transit staff, local governments, and community advocates. MPTA Chair David Howard thanked MTC members for their stewardship and formally accepted responsibility for carrying the work forward, noting the commission’s role in shaping the modern transit system that serves our community today.

Our Take

As advocates for sustainable transportation and smart growth, we’re excited to see CATS become a truly regional transit agency under the guidance of the MPTA. Regional governance creates new opportunities to coordinate investments across municipal boundaries, strengthen partnerships, and deliver the integrated transit network our growing region needs.

The fare modernization process will help to improve travel times by reducing the time it takes for riders to board vehicles, while also allowing drivers to focus more on driving instead of processing fare payments. We believe it’s important for CATS to transition with intention, ensuring that riders who currently pay cash — often the lowest-income riders — receive education and support as new fare payment methods become available.

With new transit funding in place and transformative projects on the horizon, the MPTA is well-positioned to build on the foundation established by the MTC and advance a vision of mobility that serves everyone in our community.

To every MTC delegate, past and present: Thank you for your service, leadership, and dedication to public transportation. Your work has helped move Charlotte forward, and its impact will be felt for generations to come.