The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is Charlotte’s new regional transit agency, established in December 2025 after Mecklenburg County voters approved the PAVE Act, a one-cent transit sales tax. The 27-member board — with representatives from the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, six towns, the NC General Assembly, and the Governor — is implementing the 2055 Transit System Plan: a projected $19.4 billion investment in bus, rail, and microtransit across Mecklenburg County. Major projects include the Red Line commuter rail to Lake Norman, the Silver Line light rail extension, Gateway Station multimodal hub, and a countywide bus network redesign. The Charlotte Mercury covers every MPTA board meeting, committee session, and policy decision from verified primary source transcripts.
Board Officers
David L. Howard
ChairFormer Charlotte mayor. Elected chair by acclamation at inaugural meeting. City of Charlotte appointee.
Chair
City of Charlotte
Frank Emory
Vice ChairCity of Charlotte appointee. Called MPTA a “historic transformation.”
Vice Chair
City of Charlotte
Christy Long
SecretaryRisk and controls background. Won contested election 14–13 over Reverend Corine Mack. City of Charlotte appointee.
Secretary
City of Charlotte
Ned Curran
TreasurerNC General Assembly appointee. Elected treasurer by acclamation.
Treasurer
NC General Assembly
City of Charlotte Members
Charles Bowman
Mayoral appointment. Active in procedural motions.
Member
City of Charlotte
Todd Collins
Member
City of Charlotte
Wyatt T. Dixon, III
Safety, security, and trust advocate. Raised ethics education questions.
Member
City of Charlotte
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Member
City of Charlotte
Corine Mack
Reverend. Focus on underserved communities. Contested secretary race (13–14).
Member
City of Charlotte
Jocelyn Jones Nolley
Member
City of Charlotte
Peter A. Pappas
Multimodal connectivity vision. Nominated officers at inaugural meeting.
Member
City of Charlotte
Cameron Pruette
Read all 2,300 public comments on the Silver Line. Moved Howard for chair.
Member
City of Charlotte
Katrina Jones Young
Member
City of Charlotte
Mecklenburg County Members
Mike Bryant
Mecklenburg County Manager. Ex officio board member.
County Manager
Mecklenburg County
Julie Eiselt
Former Charlotte mayor pro tem.
Member
Mecklenburg County
Justin Harlow
Member
Mecklenburg County
Kenneth Schorr
Member
Mecklenburg County
Clayton Sealey
Member
Mecklenburg County
Alysia Davis Steadman
Member
Mecklenburg County
State & Governor Appointees
David Longo
NC House of Representatives appointee.
Member
NC General Assembly
Dwayne Walker
Appointed by Governor Josh Stein. Seconded Howard for chair at inaugural meeting.
Member
Governor’s Appointee
Town Representatives
T. Anthony Lindsey
Raised community concerns about Red Line naming evoking “redlining.” Active questioner on ethics and governance.
Huntersville
Bob Menzel, Jr.
Cornelius
Matthew Walt
Davidson
Dana Stoogenke
Matthews
Brad Simmons
Mint Hill
Jeffrey Robbins
Pineville
What MPTA Is Working On
Active Thread
CATS Transition & 2055 Transit System Plan
MPTA assumes operational control of CATS on July 1, 2026. The 2055 Transit System Plan is the 30-year roadmap — bus, rail, microtransit. FY27 budget hearing May 13; approval June 10. 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. 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 →
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: 14 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 mayor 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. MPTA is taking over governance of CATS, with operational control transferring July 1, 2026. CATS employees currently work for the City of Charlotte; the transition structure is still being finalized. 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 reaches 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.
