Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) employees, community leaders, industry partners, and local officials gathered on Wednesday, June 24, to celebrate 50 years of public transit in the region and honor the workforce that has helped connect communities, support economic growth, and keep Charlotte moving since 1976. Charlotte Hornets legend Muggsy Bogues joined the celebration.

The event recognized the workforce whose dedication has sustained public transportation across generations while highlighting the milestones that transformed Charlotte's transit system from a private service to a city-run bus service into the multimodal network that serves the region today.

The event featured one of Charlotte's original transit vehicles, historic bus designs from past decades, displays highlighting key milestones in the region's transit history, and recognition of employees whose service has helped sustain public transportation across the Charlotte region.

“For 50 years, public transit has helped connect people to opportunity, but the true story of this milestone is the people behind it,” said Brent Cagle, interim CEO of CATS. “Every day, operators, mechanics, dispatchers, customer service representatives, and countless others show up committed to serving our community and helping residents get where they need to go safely and reliably. Their dedication has touched generations of families, supported our region's growth, and helped make Charlotte the city it is today.”

Charlotte Transit Leaders Reflect on Five Decades of Service

Transit Management of Charlotte (TMOC), whose history dates back to the launch of Charlotte's first city-run bus service in 1976, was also recognized during the celebration for five decades of safely connecting residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity.

“TMOC's history is deeply intertwined with the history of public transit in Charlotte,” said Seyi Osiyemi, general manager of bus operations for TMOC, WeDriveU. “For five decades, transit employees have shown up every day with a commitment to service, teamwork, and community. We are proud of the legacy they have built and grateful for the generations of employees whose professionalism and dedication have helped connect people to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity.”

As part of the celebration, Bogues joined Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority Chair David Howard for a conversation about teamwork, leadership, resilience, and the importance of creating opportunity through strong, connected communities.

“While today is an opportunity to celebrate how far public transit has come over the last 50 years, it is also a chance to look ahead,” said David Howard, chair of MPTA. “Charlotte continues to grow, and public transportation will remain essential to connecting people, supporting economic opportunity, and improving mobility throughout our region. The investments we make today will help ensure future generations have access to a transit system that meets the needs of a growing and evolving community.”

The anniversary also highlighted major milestones in Charlotte's transit journey, including the launch of public bus operations in 1976, the creation of CATS in 2000, the opening of North Carolina's first light rail line in 2007, the launch of the CATS Gold Line Streetcar, the adoption of the 2055 Transit System Plan, and recent investments that will help shape the future of mobility throughout Mecklenburg County.

Today, CATS operates one of the largest transit systems between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, providing bus, light rail, streetcar, paratransit, vanpool, and microtransit services throughout the region.