Charlotte Transit

The city of Charlotte is launching an effort to build support for a new transit authority to run the region's public transportation system, and a new one-cent sales tax increase to pay for transportation improvements. But the town of Matthews appears to be dead-set against the plan, and voted Monday night to oppose designs that call for them to get a bus line instead of a new light rail.

Charlotte is hoping to turn over management of its bus system, streetcar and light-rail line to a new transit authority.

An 85-page plan obtained through a public records request details the possibilities for Charlotte. Public documents show plenty of greenways and sidewalks on the city’s wish list of transportation projects; building and widening roads might be a challenge.

If you’ve been following transit and transportation for a few years in Charlotte, you might be forgiven for a reflexive twinge of skepticism when it comes to grand pronouncements about the future. Big ideas seem to be ever-slipping out of sight over the horizon.

With little progress on transit after almost five years, city staff at a City Council retreat outline "roads-first" ideas — but how different would a revised plan really be? Not very.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport officials say the airport set its all-time passenger record with 53.4 million passengers, a 12% jump compared to 2022. Last year’s passenger count marked the largest passenger increase since 2010 — when the airport had 39.2 million passengers.

The city of Charlotte is trying to build support for a $13.5 billion transit plan. It's been stalled since 2020.

The DOT ordered CATS to remove all of its 100- and 200-series light-rail vehicles pulled from service, following problems with a "flat spot" on one of the train's wheels.

Do the 2023 Charlotte municipal elections have any hints about what the future might hold for our region’s transit ambitions? Plans for the Silver Line, Red Line and more lines up to this point hinge on winning support from voters for a 1-cent sales tax referendum that would fund about half of the $13.5 billion price tag.

After 20-plus years, Norfolk Southern railroad reverses its stance — and says it will consider selling or leasing tracks to northern Mecklenburg for commuter rail.