Current Status
The MPTA assumes operational control of CATS on July 1, 2026 — now about a month away. 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. The board's national search for a permanent CEO, run by Krauthamer & Associates, is underway; interim CATS chief Brent Cagle is eligible to apply, and the interlocal agreement governing the handoff is still being finalized. 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.
Timeline
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. The interlocal agreement governing the July 1 CATS handoff remains 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.
Key Players
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
July 1, 2026 — MPTA assumes operational control of CATS, and the one-cent PAVE Act transit sales tax takes effect, raising Mecklenburg’s rate to 8.25%. The interlocal handoff agreement is being finalized ahead of this date.
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 a three-phase national search; finalists are to be brought to the board ahead of July 1.
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.
Background
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 (14 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.
The Charlotte Mercury covers MPTA from verified primary source transcripts. For the full board roster, meeting schedule, and FAQ, see the MPTA hub page.
Mercury Coverage
After 27 Years, Charlotte's Transit Commission Holds Its Final Meeting and Hands CATS to the MPTA
Jack Beckett · June 1, 2026
Charlotte's Transit Board Approves a New Fare System on Its Way Out the Door
Jack Beckett · June 2, 2026
A Transit Board Said Goodbye to the Man Who Steadied CATS. He May Not Be Going Anywhere.
Jack Beckett · June 3, 2026
27 Years of Charlotte Transit: From a Bus-Only City to the MPTA, a Timeline
The full milestone-by-milestone history
MPTA Launches CEO Search With July 1 Deadline Less Than Seven Weeks Away
May 15, 2026
Charlotte's $4.5 Billion Budget Drew More Than 30 Speakers Monday Night. Nearly All of Them Asked for More.
May 14, 2026
Charlotte Council Passed an I-77 Resolution Monday Night. Then Came the Vote That Actually Mattered.
May 13, 2026
MTC Closes Comment Period on CATS Fare Plan With One Cash-Rider Question Unanswered
May 8, 2026
Charlotte City Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit Budget
Jack Beckett · April 14, 2026
What Happened to CATS? How Charlotte's Transit System Went From City Department to Regional Authority
Jack Beckett · March 28, 2026
Gateway Station Charlotte: Why the City's Transit Hub Has Been 25 Years in the Making
Jack Beckett · March 28, 2026
Charlotte's Red Line, Explained: The Commuter Rail That Took 25 Years to Start Building
Jack Beckett · March 28, 2026
What Is the MPTA? Charlotte's New Transit Authority, Explained
Jack Beckett · March 28, 2026
How Charlotte's Transit Tax Works: What You're Paying, Where It Goes, and Who Controls It
Jack Beckett · March 28, 2026
Gateway Station: Two Council Members Say Charlotte Has Waited Long Enough
Jack Beckett · March 23, 2026
Tracker update log: Created March 28, 2026. Last updated May 30, 2026 (post-dissolution refresh: May 27 final MTC meeting + fare adoption added to timeline; status bar, What's Next, and coverage list updated for the July 1 handoff; corrected interim CEO name to Brent Cagle; added the three final-meeting articles and the 27-year history timeline). Previous update May 21, 2026. Timeline covers November 2025 referendum through May 2026.