Charlotte committee recommends MOU backing for new regional transit authority; members weigh appointments and board qualifications

The Transportation Planning & Development Committee recommended that the full City Council approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing steps for appointing members to the new regional transit authority if a proposed referendum passes. The committee voted 4–1 to send the MOU forward after lengthy discussion about appointment language, candidate qualifications and timing.

Committee chair Ed Driggs opened the Sept. 2 discussion by noting the MOU aligns local steps with the state law that would create the authority if voters approve the countywide referendum. “What is happening here is the all the members of the MTC have established a timeline for actions that we need to take towards, the implementation of our mobility plan if there, the referendum is successful,” Driggs said.

What was in the MOU and why it matters

The MOU reproduces statutory appointment categories from the PAVE Act (state law cited in committee discussion, noted in the MOU materials) and outlines that the largest municipality’s governing body…