Charlotte Transit Authority (MPTA): Board, Projects & Coverage

Everything we have reported on the transit authority, newest first.

Next meeting

Wednesday, November 4

MPTA Business Meeting · 6 p.m. ET

What MPTA Is Working On

Active Thread

CATS Transition & 2055 Transit System Plan

The MPTA took operational control of CATS on July 1, 2026. Employees, payroll and computer systems are due to move over from the City of Charlotte on January 1, 2027, a deadline interim CEO Brent Cagle has called “very, very aggressive.” On July 8 the board let him sign the technology contracts for that move without a separate vote on each one. The old Metropolitan Transit Commission held its final meeting May 27 after 27 years and approved a modernized fare system, phased in over 2027 and 2028. The 2055 Transit System Plan is the 30-year roadmap for bus, rail and microtransit. First full MPTA-exclusive budget in FY28. What is the MPTA? → · What happened to CATS? →

Active Thread

Red Line Commuter Rail

North corridor commuter rail from Uptown to Lake Norman through Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson. Cost: $1.26 billion (2026 estimate). City Council approved $37.9M design contract to 30%. Red Line must reach 50% completion before any other rail project can be completed. In August the board unanimously ordered a separate study of a possible West Craighead station; the 11-station plan is unchanged. Red Line, explained →

Active Thread

Silver Line Light Rail Extension

East-west light rail. Full plan: 29 miles, 30 stations ($6.9B). Funded segment: ~10 miles, airport to Coliseum ($3.3B). Matthews not in current plan — would require third transit tax. WSP advising on station consolidation for $140–$170M savings. Silver Line, explained →

Active Thread

Gateway Station

Multimodal transit hub at W. Trade and Graham streets. Connects Red Line, Silver Line, Gold Line, Amtrak, and bus. $89M CTC project stalled. MPTA may take the lead. Council members Anderson and Graham pressing for action. Gateway Station, explained →

Active Thread

Bus Network Redesign & Project BOAST

High-frequency bus routes. Microtransit expansion to underserved areas. Project BOAST protects small businesses along construction corridors. Board directed staff to develop employment impact estimates.

Active Thread

Transit Tax & 30-Year Financial Plan

Two transit sales taxes: the original Article 43 half-cent (~$165M/yr) plus the PAVE Act one-cent (~$325M/yr). Combined: ~$490M annually. 40% roads, 40% rail, 20% bus. $19.4 billion projected over 30 years. Passed by 52.28% in November 2025. How the transit tax works →

Timeline

Jan. 1, 2027

Scheduled: CATS workers and systems move to the authority

The people who run CATS remain City of Charlotte employees on city payroll and computer systems until this date, when they are to move to the MPTA along with its first employee handbook. The two-date handoff
2027–2028

Scheduled: new fares phase in

Tap-and-go payment, electronic validation, a new streetcar fare and expanded reduced fares, adopted by the outgoing transit commission in May 2026. What the fare plan does
Oct. 14, 2026

Attendance rule adopted

The board adopted an attendance policy after trustee T. Anthony Lindsey said he would vote no, and heard that no task for the Jan. 1 handover was at risk or flagged red.
Sept. 28, 2026

Cleared to receive federal funds directly

Interim CEO Brent Cagle told the executive committee that the Federal Transit Administration now recognizes the MPTA as a direct recipient of federal funds.
Sept. 10–11, 2026

Board holds a two-day retreat

The Sept. 9 board meeting was canceled, and the board met for a two-day retreat. At the close of the first day, trustees adopted a travel policy 16-1; the chair said the next day that the board had also voted to name an interim general counsel.
Aug. 12, 2026

Board orders a West Craighead station study

The board voted for a separate study of a possible future West Craighead infill station, then sent the 11-station Red Line plan, unchanged, into federal review. Read the story
July 8, 2026

Two split votes on one day

A planning committee voted 5-4 against recommending a West Craighead Red Line station. That evening the full board let interim CEO Brent Cagle and the transition co-directors sign technology contracts for the split from city systems without case-by-case approval; two trustees voted no. The station vote · The contracts vote
July 1, 2026

MPTA takes control of CATS

Operational control of Charlotte's buses and trains passed from the city to the authority, the same day the one-cent transit sales tax took effect. What changed
June 24, 2026

Last state requirement met

The board voted to send the General Assembly its report certifying all twelve requirements of the state's PAVE Act, and joined the region's transportation planning organization with trustee Brad A. Simmons as its representative. Read the story
June 10, 2026

Streetcar fare vote stalls

A motion to strike the new Gold Line streetcar fare was never cleanly resolved after the count of hands broke down. Read the story
May 27, 2026

The transit commission's last meeting

After 27 years, the Metropolitan Transit Commission adopted the CATS fare overhaul and handed the system to the MPTA. Read the story
May 13, 2026

CEO search begins

Search firm Krauthamer & Associates laid out a three-phase national search for a permanent chief executive. Chair David L. Howard said interim CEO Brent Cagle may apply. Read the story
March 11, 2026

Ethics code adopted

The board adopted its Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy.
Feb. 20, 2026

First workshop on the transit plan

Trustees were briefed on the 2055 Transit System Plan: the Red Line, the Silver Line, the bus network and microtransit. What the MPTA is
Dec. 18, 2025

The board is sworn in

All 27 trustees took office at the first meeting and elected David L. Howard chair, Frank Emory vice chair, Christy Long secretary and Ned Curran treasurer. Read the story
November 2025

Voters approve the transit tax

Mecklenburg County voters approved a one-cent sales tax for a 30-year, $19.4 billion transportation plan, with a new 27-member regional authority to oversee the spending. The results

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MPTA?

The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is Charlotte’s regional transit agency, established in December 2025 after voters approved a transit sales tax. It oversees a $19.4 billion, 30-year investment in bus, rail, and microtransit across Mecklenburg County. Full explainer →

Who is on the MPTA board?

The MPTA has a 27-member board: 12 City of Charlotte appointees, 6 Mecklenburg County appointees, 6 town representatives (one each from Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville), 2 NC General Assembly appointees, and 1 Governor’s appointee.

Who is the chair of the MPTA?

David L. Howard, a former Charlotte City Council member and City of Charlotte appointee. He was elected chair by acclamation at the inaugural meeting on December 18, 2025.

When does the MPTA board meet?

Business meetings are typically the second Wednesday of each month. Workshops and committee meetings are scheduled as needed. All meetings stream live on the MPTA YouTube channel.

What happened to CATS?

CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) continues to operate bus and rail service. The MPTA took operational control on July 1, 2026. The people who run CATS remain City of Charlotte employees until the staff transition, which is targeted for January 1, 2027. Full explainer →

What is the Charlotte Red Line?

The Red Line is a planned commuter rail corridor from Uptown Charlotte north to Lake Norman, passing through Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson. Cost estimate: $1.26 billion. Design is at 30% after City Council approved a $37.9M contract in March 2026. State law requires 50% completion before any other rail project can finish. Full explainer →

What is the Charlotte Silver Line?

The Silver Line is a planned east-west light rail extension. The full project spans 29 miles with 30 stations ($6.9B). The funded Minimal Operable Segment — ~10 miles from the airport to the Bojangles Coliseum area — costs $3.3 billion. Matthews is not in the current plan. Full explainer →

How does the Charlotte transit tax work?

Two levies: the original 1998 Article 43 half-cent (~$165M/yr for operations) plus the 2025 PAVE Act one-cent (~$325M/yr, split 40% roads / 40% rail / 20% bus). Combined: ~$490M annually. Mecklenburg County’s sales tax rate reached 8.25% on July 1, 2026. Full explainer →

What is Gateway Station?

Gateway Station is a planned multimodal transit hub at the intersection of W. Trade and Graham streets in Charlotte. It would connect the Red Line, Silver Line, Gold Line, Amtrak service, and bus routes. The $89M CTC project has been stalled but MPTA may take the lead. Full explainer →

How much will Charlotte’s transit plan cost?

The 2055 Transit System Plan is projected at $19.4 billion over 30 years, funded by two transit sales taxes totaling ~$490M annually, plus projected federal grants (~$5.9B over 30 years). Major projects: Red Line ($1.26B), Silver Line ($3.3B–$6.9B), Gateway Station ($89M), bus network redesign, and microtransit expansion.

Oct 19, 2026
MPTA Names Brad Thomas Its Interim General Counsel
Charlotte's transit authority voted Sept. 10 to make CATS general counsel Brad Thomas its own lawyer for six months starting Jan. 1, the day CATS employees are to move from the city to the authority.
Sep 29, 2026
Charlotte's Housing Bond Plan Now Says Where Homes Should Go
Before voters decide on a $125 million housing bond in November, city staff laid out how the money would be split, with new goals for homes near transit and in higher-opportunity neighborhoods. Council plans to adopt the plan in October.
Aug 26, 2026
I-77 Toll Lanes: Charlotte Unmoved, $60 Million Disputed
At its last meeting before the September 23 reinstatement vote, CRTPO heard that Charlotte's position on the I-77 South toll lanes is unchanged, that the alternatives analysis cannot finish in time, and that the $60 million repayment figure is disputed by the county's account of NCDOT's own spending.
Aug 13, 2026
MPTA Orders Study of Possible West Craighead Station
MPTA unanimously ordered a separate planning study for a possible future West Craighead infill station. The action leaves the current 11-station Red Line plan unchanged while requiring CATS to begin working with the city, county, property owners and community stakeholders.
Jul 11, 2026
Charlotte Transit Board Expands Interim CEO's Spending Power
Charlotte's new transit authority gave its interim CEO expanded authority to sign technology contracts without case-by-case board approval, racing a Jan. 1 deadline to separate CATS from the city's systems. The vote passed with two opposed, after trustees warned they risked rubber-stamping a roughly $35 million transition they had not fully vetted.
Jul 10, 2026
MPTA Panel Votes 5-4 Against West Craighead Red Line Stop
A committee of Charlotte's new transit authority voted 5-4 against recommending a West Craighead station for the Red Line, siding with staff who warned an extra stop could weaken the project's bid for federal money. A Sugar Creek neighborhood coalition that spent two years making the case gets one more chance at the full board on Aug. 12.
Jun 28, 2026
Transit Authority Clears Last State Requirement to Run CATS
On June 24 the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority closed out the last of the twelve requirements North Carolina set before it can run Charlotte's buses and trains, and voted to send the proof to Raleigh. The takeover itself splits in two: operational control on July 1, employees and computers on January 1, 2027.
Jun 11, 2026
What Changes July 1 When the MPTA Takes Over CATS
On July 1, the Charlotte Area Transit System stops being a city department and passes to the MPTA, a 27-member appointed board, along with a new one-cent tax meant to raise $19.4 billion over thirty years. Here is what changes, what stays the same, and the questions the board carries in unfinished, starting with the one it could not resolve on June 10: whether the Gold Line streetcar should be free.
Jun 3, 2026
Transit Board Says Goodbye to Brent Cagle, Who Steadied CATS
At the MTC's final meeting, members praised interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle for steadying an agency in crisis since he arrived in December 2022. The tributes land as the MPTA's national search for a permanent CEO, a job Cagle is eligible to pursue, runs in parallel.
Jun 2, 2026
Outgoing Charlotte Transit Board Approves New Fare System
The Metropolitan Transit Commission's final vote adopted the CATS Fare Modernization Program, tap-and-go payments, electronic validation, a new streetcar fare, and expanded reduced fares, phased in over 2027-2028. A cash-rider equity question raised repeatedly in public comment went unresolved on the record.
Jun 1, 2026
Transit Commission Holds Final Meeting, Hands CATS to MPTA
The Metropolitan Transit Commission held its final meeting May 27 after 27 years, adopting an amended CATS fare policy and formally handing operational control to the new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. The MPTA takes over July 1, the same day the one-cent PAVE Act transit tax takes effect.
May 30, 2026
Charlotte Transit's 27-Year Build, in One Timeline
Charlotte went from a bus-only city to a rail-connected region to an independent transit authority in 27 years. A companion to the Mercury's coverage of the MTC's dissolution, laid out as a single annotated timeline.
May 14, 2026
MPTA Launches CEO Search as July 1 Deadline Nears
The MPTA board launched a national CEO search Wednesday and advanced the draft Interlocal Agreement as the July 1 operational transfer deadline approaches.
May 11, 2026
Budget, I-77, Data Centers and the Question Graham Dodged
Council convened in special session at 4 p.m. Monday to take up three of Charlotte's biggest active fights, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, a resolution on the I-77 South toll lanes, and the council's first formal floor discussion of data centers. Council Member Malcolm Graham, who chairs the budget committee, was asked twice on television Sunday whether he is a candidate to fill Mayor Vi Lyles's seat after she steps down June 30. Both times he answered with the public hearing.
Apr 14, 2026
Charlotte Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit Budget
The first CATS budget built on the new 1% sales tax totals $571.7 million. Council rejected criminalizing street vendors. Staff recommended thirteen of eighteen housing trust fund proposals. The Stellar Awards are coming, but the city's check is not.
Mar 28, 2026
Charlotte's Silver Line Explained: A $3.3B Line That Shrank
The original plan was 29 miles of light rail from Belmont to Indian Trail, through the airport, through Uptown, and into Union County. Charlotte got federal money. What followed was a lesson in what $19.4 billion buys when ambition meets infrastructure reality.
Mar 28, 2026
Red Line Explained: Charlotte's Commuter Rail, 25 Years On
Charlotte owns the railroad tracks, has a design contract, and a state law mandating the Red Line gets built before anything else. What it doesn't have yet is a train, and this commuter corridor has been 25 years in the making.
Mar 28, 2026
What Happened to CATS? Charlotte Transit's Move to the MPTA
By July 1, 2026, CATS as a City of Charlotte department will cease to exist, absorbed into the new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. Here's how Charlotte's transit system went from city department to regional authority, and what it means.
Mar 28, 2026
How Charlotte's Transit Tax Works and Who Controls the Money
Mecklenburg County voters approved a one-cent sales tax increase in November 2025. The PAVE Act splits the revenue 40/40/20 between roads, rail, and bus service, generating roughly $490 million annually. Here is how the money works and who controls it.
Mar 28, 2026
Gateway Station: 25 Years in the Making, Still No Building
Charlotte Gateway Station has $80 million in completed rail infrastructure and no station building. Phase 1 is done. Phase 2 has no start date. Here is why the project stalled, and how the MPTA may finally break the pattern.
Mar 28, 2026
What Is the MPTA? Charlotte's Transit Authority, Explained
The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is Charlotte's new regional transit authority, created after voters approved a one-cent transportation sales tax in November 2025. It assumes control of CATS on July 1, 2026, at the center of a $19.4 billion, 30-year transportation plan.
Mar 23, 2026
Gateway Station: Two Council Members Press for an Update
At Monday's FY2027 budget workshop, Council Members Anderson and Graham pushed for a Gateway Station progress update and connected it to the stalled CTC redevelopment and the former EpiCentre. With PAVE Act revenue arriving July 1, the 25-year-old transit project has new funding, and new political pressure.
Jan 17, 2026
Charlotte Council Approves $4.3M Transit Authority Start-Up
Council approved $4.3M for a new transit authority start-up and major infrastructure contracts, while deferring a Gateway Station parking lease and a Norland Road path item.
Dec 19, 2025
What to Know About Charlotte's New Transit Authority
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have crossed a governance threshold that will shape transportation, land use, and public spending for a generation. On December 18, the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority convened for the first time.
Nov 20, 2025
Who Will Run Charlotte's Transit Authority? Inside the MPTA
Charlotte's new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority will control nearly twenty billion dollars in transit and road spending. Here is who appoints its 27 members, who is already in the seats, and what they can actually do.
Nov 18, 2025
MPTA Appointments Advance After a Marathon Process
Charlotte City Council confirmed four new members to the long-anticipated Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority board after a multi-day interview marathon.
Oct 2, 2025
How Charlotte Will Pick MPTA Transit Board: New Timeline
Council aligned the MPTA appointment timeline with partner schedules and swapped a hard category rule for "encouraged," after recusing one member. Here is what changes on Nov. 6, 12‑15, 17, and 24.

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