Metropolitan Transit Commission ends 27-year run; members praise interim CATS CEO and hand oversight to MPTA

The Metropolitan Transit Commission held its last scheduled meeting May 27, 2026, concluding 27 years of work and formally handing responsibility for regional transit governance to the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority.

Chair Lee Altman opened the session and used his valedictory remarks to thank elected officials, staff and citizen advisory committees for long-term bipartisan leadership. "This work all along has been done in tandem with riders, and that it will continue to be done in tandem with riders, on the MPTA," Altman said, praising the commission’s staff and leadership.

Interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle summarized operations for April and highlighted safety and performance data. He reported six reportable events in bus operations for April, including four collisions that resulted in minor injuries to four passengers and one bus operator; one passenger altercation that escalated to a physical assault (the aggressor fled); and one fatality in the rail division at the Orr Road grade crossing when a pedestrian crossed through lowered gates and was struck and later died. Cagle attributed a drop in Blue Line on-time performance (81.29% in April) to construction-related single-tracking and line cuts, including about 14 days of constrained operations in the month.

Cagle also reported system performance and ridership trends: April bus on-time performance reached 85% (up from 82% in April 2025), marking a six-month streak meeting the 85% OTP goal for buses. Ridership comparisons included a 2.2% year-over-year decline for local bus in April, a 6% increase on ExpressRoute, a 9.3% year-over-year decrease on the Blue Line, and a 6.4% year-over-year decrease on the Gold Line (though the Gold Line was up 7% compared with the prior month). Cagle cited strong growth in micro-transit, reporting 6,756 trips in April 2026, a 156% increase from April 2025.

David Howard, representing the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, accepted the transition of responsibilities and thanked the commission for its leadership over nearly three decades. Members from NCDOT and several mayors offered public thanks to Cagle and staff for operational improvements and coordination with state and local partners.

Cagle also previewed a multi-agency emergency exercise planned for June 6 in coordination with TSA, Charlotte Fire, CMPD, CDOT and event partners at the Spectrum Center to test response to a simulated terrorist scenario; staff said public communications will be issued in advance.

The commission closed with presentation of commemorative artwork and brief remarks before adjourning. No formal contested votes or disciplinary actions were recorded; the meeting was largely ceremonial and transitional in tone.

What to watch next: MPTA will assume governance responsibilities and receive implementation updates on fare modernization pilots, public education and operational performance reporting.