CATS Seeks Charlotte Riders for Two New Advisory Committees

Two New Committees Will Focus on Rider Experience

MPTA and CATS are forming two permanent rider-focused groups: the Mobility Access Committee, known as MAC, and the Transit Rider Advisory Committee, known as TRAC. Both are intended to bring rider perspectives directly into transit decisions.

Members will meet regularly and submit reports to the MPTA Board of Trustees and the Operations and Safety Committee. The committees are designed to create an ongoing channel between riders, community representatives, and transit leadership on accessibility, service quality, customer experience, and system improvements.

The MPTA Board Chairperson will appoint members to staggered three-year terms. Recommended committee members are expected to be approved and announced by December 2026, giving the inaugural groups time to prepare before regular meetings begin in January 2027.

Mobility Access Committee Will Focus on Accessibility

The Mobility Access Committee will center on people with disabilities who use Special Transportation Service, paratransit, or other CATS services, along with the caregivers and advocates who support them.

MPTA and CATS are seeking at least nine active riders who use STS or navigate other CATS services while living with a disability. Caregivers, ADA professionals, service providers, and advocates are also encouraged to apply so the committee reflects both direct rider experience and the people who help riders navigate the system.

Fifteen members will be selected for the inaugural committee, giving MAC a mix of riders and support-community perspectives. The proposed schedule calls for meetings at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every other month in 2027, with members serving as volunteers throughout their appointments.

Transit Rider Advisory Committee Will Cover the Broader System

The Transit Rider Advisory Committee will represent a broader mix of CATS customers, including people who use bus, rail, microtransit, and paratransit or STS service throughout the Charlotte area.

MPTA and CATS are looking for active riders who can identify opportunities to improve the overall customer experience across different modes. People who are not active riders may also apply if they work closely with transit customers, including service providers, employers, educators, and community leaders with firsthand knowledge of rider needs.

TRAC will include 13 selected members and will also include the chair and vice chair of the Mobility Access Committee. The proposed schedule calls for meetings at 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month, creating a more frequent forum for discussing service quality, rider concerns, and systemwide improvements.

Who CATS and MPTA Want to Hear From

Applicants should be interested in improving CATS service and the day-to-day rider experience. The committees are designed for people willing to participate in discussions, collaborate with other members, represent rider perspectives, and help create a stronger connection between the public and transit leadership.

Applications Close September 30

Applications remain open throughout September, with CATS conducting recruitment intended to reach riders and community members across its different transit modes.

Recommended committee members are expected to be approved and announced by December, and both committees are scheduled to begin meeting in January 2027. Anyone considering an application can review the committee charters, compare the responsibilities of MAC and TRAC, and submit the appropriate online form before the September 30 deadline.

CATS Connects Charlotte Across Multiple Transit Services

Charlotte Area Transit System provides bus, light rail, streetcar, vanpool, and paratransit services across the Charlotte area, giving riders several different ways to move through the region.

Rider priorities can vary widely depending on how someone uses the system. Daily bus customers may focus on frequency and connections, while STS riders may place greater emphasis on accessibility and reliability, and LYNX or streetcar riders may have different concerns about stations, transfers, and service quality. The new committees are structured to bring those experiences into the same broader conversation while giving accessibility issues dedicated attention through MAC.