Recently, the Charlotte City Council in North Carolina adopted a budget that advances the safety and security of customers and employees while maintaining Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) facilities, buses, and light rail vehicles. On June 10, the newly formed Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) also adopted this budget.

According to an agency release, the fiscal year 2027 budget includes notable investments in customer safety, fleet and facility maintenance, service improvements, and advancement of major strategic projects.

Council members and MPTA trustees authorized $225 million in capital investments and $314 million in operations, including an additional $10 million for continued support for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department off-duty officers, expanded fare enforcement, and other security improvement measures. The FY27 budget includes no fare increases and no new fees for customers.

"Our community has made it clear that transit is essential to the region's future,” said Brent Cagle, interim CEO of CATS. “This budget advances that vision through investments in safety, service improvements and the infrastructure needed to support the growing Charlotte region.”

Impacts of CATS’ FY27 Budget

Highlights of the operating budget include:

• Continued safety and security improvements across the transit system.
• Expansion of Microtransit service into new service zones.
• More than 30,500 additional bus service hours, including 15-minute weekday service on routes 5, 7, 16, and 21 through the Better Bus initiative.
• Expanded resources for Special Transportation Service to meet growing demand.
• Increased investment in fleet, rail, and facility maintenance to keep assets in a state of good repair.

The FY27 capital investments support major infrastructure and modernization projects, including:

• Continued development of the South End Station and Hambright Park & Ride projects.
• Safety, security, and technology enhancements across the transit system.
• Purchase of new buses and improvements to approximately 100 bus stops through the Better Bus initiative.
• Advancement of the Red Line Commuter Rail and Silver Line Light Rail projects through 30% design and environmental review.