Current Status
The MPTA took operational control of CATS on July 1, 2026. The Metropolitan Transit Commission, the body the MPTA replaces, held its final meeting on May 27 after 27 years, adopting the CATS Fare Modernization Program before handing off. CATS employees and computer systems move from the city to the authority on January 1, 2027. Brent Cagle was still serving as interim chief executive at the board's July 8 meeting, while Krauthamer & Associates continued the national search for a permanent CEO. The 27-member board, chaired by David L. Howard, is implementing the 2055 Transit System Plan: a $19.4 billion, 30-year investment in bus, rail, and microtransit.
Jun 10, 2026
MPTA Board Meeting — Final Pre-Handoff: Three weeks before taking operational control, the board worked through what changes on July 1 and what is still undecided — including an unresolved motion to strike the new Gold Line streetcar fare, which Chair David L. Howard could not get cleanly counted. The interlocal handoff agreement and several fare questions remained open heading into the transition.
May 27, 2026
Final MTC Meeting — Handoff: The Metropolitan Transit Commission held its final meeting after 27 years, adopting the amended CATS Fare Modernization fare policy (phased rollout 2027–2028) and delegating final-minutes authority to the chair. Interim CEO Brent Cagle reported April operations — bus on-time performance 85% (sixth straight month at goal), microtransit up 156% year-over-year. The MPTA’s Operations & Safety Committee voted the same day to fold the citizen advisory committee (PTAC) into the new authority. MPTA Chair David L. Howard accepted the handoff; MPTA assumes operational control July 1.
May 15, 2026
MPTA CEO Search: At its May 13 board meeting, the authority launched a national search for a permanent CEO, retaining executive-search firm Krauthamer & Associates (partner Gregg A. Moser). Three-phase process: candidate-profile development through early June, then national recruitment, then finalist interviews. At the time, the interlocal agreement governing the July 1 CATS handoff was still under negotiation.
May 11, 2026
FY27 Budget Public Hearing: City Council heard 30+ speakers on the proposed $4.5 billion FY27 budget (1.89-cent property tax increase, $125 million November housing bond, raises of 10% police / 7% fire / 4% city staff). Budget adjustments May 18, straw votes June 1, adoption June 8.
May 7, 2026
MTC Fare Hearing: The Metropolitan Transit Commission held its final public-comment session on the CATS Fare Modernization Program. CATS staff said it anticipates requesting MTC adoption at the May 27 meeting.
Apr 13, 2026
City Council Budget Vote: Charlotte City Council passes first post-sales-tax transit budget. $20M+ for CATS including Red Line design-to-30%, Gateway Station environmental review, Blue Line safety study. Council Member Hefner cites $20M+ total. CATS budget public hearing set for May 11; adoption vote June 18. Stellar Awards city contribution deferred pending Econ Dev Committee event funding policy.
Mar 11, 2026
Business Meeting: Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy adopted unanimously. All foundational governance documents now complete. Interim CEO Brent Cagle reported South Station cost at ~$35M ($25M station + $10M track crossover). City Council approved $35M Red Line design contract to 30%. FTA grant application submitted for $30M. FTA audit draft responses under review. T. Anthony Lindsey raised community concern about “Red Line” name evoking “redlining.”
Mar 6, 2026
Strategy Session: No auto-captions generated; transcript pending.
Mar 4, 2026
Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee: Fourth committee session.
Feb 24, 2026
Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee: Third committee session.
Feb 20, 2026
Workshop #1: Full board orientation on the 2055 Transit System Plan. Presentations on Red Line ($1.26B, 2026 estimate), Silver Line MOS ($3.3B) and full project ($6.9B), Better Bus program, microtransit expansion. Financial overview: ~$165M annual tax revenue, $223M fund balance, $130M recommended reserve. PAVE Act value engineering underway. Budget timeline through July 1 transition. Staff directed to develop employment impact estimates for bus expansion.
Feb 17, 2026
Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee: Second committee session.
Feb 11, 2026
Business Meeting: Second regular business meeting.
Jan 30, 2026
Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee: First committee session. Bylaws development underway.
Jan 9, 2026
Business Meeting: First regular business meeting. Multi-jurisdiction board introduction.
Jan 7, 2026
Special Meeting: Early organizational session.
Dec 18, 2025
Inaugural Meeting: 27 trustees sworn in by Mayor Vi Lyles. David L. Howard elected chair by acclamation. Frank Emory elected vice chair. Christy Long elected secretary (14–13 over Reverend Corine Mack). Ned Curran elected treasurer. Robert’s Rules adopted. Parker Poe consultants presented feasibility study: asset transfer from CATS to MPTA “feasible and advisable,” but existing CATS debt cannot transfer.
Nov 2025
Referendum: Mecklenburg County voters approve half-cent transit sales tax under the PAVE Act. Margin: ~7,800 votes. Projected $19.4 billion impact over 30 years.
David L. HowardMPTA Board Chair · City of Charlotte
Frank EmoryMPTA Vice Chair · City of Charlotte
Brent CagleInterim CEO, CATS
Kelly GoforthChief Development Officer · PAVE Act lead
Chad HowChief Financial Officer
Danté AndersonCharlotte City Council · Gateway Station champion
Malcolm GrahamCharlotte City Council · Gateway Station
What’s Next
January 1, 2027: CATS employees move from the City of Charlotte to the authority, along with new payroll and login systems and the authority’s first employee handbook.
Fare rollout, 2027–2028 — CATS phases in the modernized fare system (contactless pay, electronic validation, a new streetcar fare, expanded reduced fares), with public-education events beforehand.
MPTA CEO hire: Krauthamer & Associates is running the national search for a permanent chief executive. Interim CEO Brent Cagle is eligible to apply.
Red Line naming decision — Board will be asked to weigh in on whether to rename the commuter rail service after community concerns about “redlining” connotation.
The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is the most significant new government entity in Charlotte in decades. Created after Mecklenburg County voters narrowly approved a half-cent transit sales tax in November 2025, MPTA is responsible for implementing the 2055 Transit System Plan — a 30-year, $19.4 billion investment in bus, rail, and microtransit expansion across the county.
The authority’s 27-member board includes representatives from the City of Charlotte (12 seats), Mecklenburg County (6 seats), six surrounding towns (1 seat each), the NC General Assembly (2 seats), and the Governor (1 seat). This multi-jurisdictional structure reflects the regional scope of the transit system — and the political complexity of governing it.
Major projects under MPTA oversight include the Red Line commuter rail to Lake Norman ($1.26 billion), the Silver Line light rail extension ($3.3–$6.9 billion), Gateway Station multimodal hub ($89 million), a countywide bus network redesign, and microtransit expansion. The authority can now issue revenue bonds backed by transit tax revenue under the PAVE Act, expanding its financing options beyond the certificates of participation previously available to CATS.