CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte transit leaders are drafting the Charlotte Area Transit System budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
CATS has undergone major improvements since new leadership took over in 2022, but it still has a long way to go. Local leaders have several plans to expand and improve Charlotte area transit, but it’s going to take a lot of money that hasn’t been secured yet.
Tuesday night, interim CATS CEO, Brent Cagle, shared updates on the path forward for the agency after a turbulent past.
He told the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners that one priority this past year has been safety and security, following multiple violent incidents on CATS property.
"We roughly doubled the amount expended on the contracts for safety and security contracts in total," Cagle explained. "In effect, doubling the personnel for safety and security throughout the system."
Another priority has been preserving and replacing CATS’ fleet after the 2022 Blue Line derailment brought to light the lack of maintenance on light rail cars and buses under previous leadership.
"We have placed on order approximately 30 vehicles with another 25 to go," Cagle added.
The agency also grappled with a driver shortage for months. The 20% vacancy rate led to missed trips and unreliable bus service. However, Cagle said the agency is fixing that issue.
"I'm happy to say in that 12-month period, we have successfully reduced our vacancy rate to just around 10%," Cagle told commissioners.
Looking ahead, projects like the redevelopment of the transit center in Uptown, plus the future Silver and Red Lines are priorities.
Cagle also mentioned the future Charlotte Gateway Station, expansion of the Gold Line, and the future Huntersville express bus, park and ride facility.
"Some of these big plans, there needs to be additional funding," Cagle said.
A half-cent county-wide sales tax helps pay for transit. Local leaders are considering asking Mecklenburg County voters for an additional one-cent sales tax to pay for a proposed $13.5 billion transportation plan.
However, they first need approval from state elected leaders before putting the tax increase on the ballot, and they have shown disapproval in the past.
"There are good, positive conversations going on in the region and in Raleigh, but it remains to be seen, you know, where this all hits," Cagle shared with the board.
Cagle said the CATS' recommended 2025 budget will be presented to the Metropolitan Transit Commission in April and then it will go to the Charlotte City Council for consideration.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.