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Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement
Study Plan & Schedule
Structure Principles
FAQ
Glossary

To meet the growing needs of the region, the "2025 Integrated Transit/Land-Use Plan for Charlotte-Mecklenburg," was created in 1998.  Later that year, the citizens of Mecklenburg County approved the levy of a one-half cent sales tax to be used to finance public transportation improvements.

In 1999, a Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement was established between the City of Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mecklenburg County, Mint Hill and Pineville.  This agreement defines the relationships and mechanisms that guide the planning of the transit system, the allocation of the sales tax and the implementation of the 2025 Integrated Transit / Land Use Plan.

This agreement also created a policy board and an advisory group – the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) and the Citizens Transit Advisory Group (CTAG).  The MTC functions as the board of directors for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).

The MTC is comprised of the mayors and managers of the city, the county and the six towns within Mecklenburg County.  To ensure regional involvement, there are also non-voting representatives from Concord, Gastonia, Monroe, Mooresville, Rock Hill, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The MTC is responsible for reviewing CATS' operating programs, capital programs and long-range transit plans; for providing policy direction in creating a regional transit system, and for making recommendations to affected governments.

Under the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement, the City of Charlotte is responsible for administration of the transit system.  The system operates as a department within the City, doing business as CATS.

CTAG is comprised of residents appointed by the city, the county, each of the six towns and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.  Elected officials are ineligible.  CTAG is responsible for reviewing CATS' operating programs, capital programs and long-range transit plans from the community's perspective, and for making recommendations to the MTC, which provides public involvement in transit planning.

The Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement requires that CTAG review the current transit governance structure and report its findings and recommendations to the MTC by June 30, 2004.