Public Transit

The CRTPO is the regional transportation coordination partner. CRTPO ensures the adoption and/or amendments to public transportation initiatives within a prioritized inter-modal program known as the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The initiatives could include transit plans, new public transportation facilities, transit route or alignment changes, and/or introduction of changes to public transportation funding.

There are currently four public transportation and transit providers within the CRTPO planning area including the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Iredell County Area Transportation System (ICATS), Mecklenburg Transportation System (MTS), and Union County Transportation (UCT). The CRTPO engages with partner agencies to conduct and integrate regional transit planning into the transportation planning processes.

The public transportation services in the region include bus, demand response, paratransit, rail and streetcar. Together, these services play a critical role in sustaining economic vitality, serving the needs of low-income and other disadvantaged populations, alleviating congestion, providing high-quality alternatives to driving, building communities, reducing environmental impacts and air quality while promoting regional land use and development goals.

The TPWG meets quarterly, agendas and presentations can be viewed in the accordion below.

CRTPO receives Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds annually. These funds are used to support multimodal transportation planning projects to its member jurisdictions and transit agencies within the planning area. Planning needs to be cooperative, continuous, and comprehensive, resulting in long-range plans and short-range programs reflecting transportation investment priorities.

The NCDOT allocated FY2028 FTA Section 5303 grant federal funds amount for planning projects is approximately +/- $1,000,000.

The FY2028 Regional Transit Planning Funding pre-submittal applications are now posted until Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The pre-submittal process is for all qualifying agencies to contemplate projects supporting the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users, increase of the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight, environmental stewardship, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements locally and regionally, and the enhancement and preservation of intermodal connectivity. Each applicant for FTA Section 5303 planning funds must submit an application and participate in a pre-submittal meeting with the CRTPO staff before Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Pre-Submittal Form:
Regional Transit Planning Funding Pre-Submittal Form-FY28

If you have any questions about the pre-submittal application, please contact Jerrel Leonard at Jerrel.Leonard@charlottenc.gov.

---

Charlotte Area Transportation Service Providers

---

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation (CPT-HST) Plan

In July 2025, the Metropolitan Transit Commission and Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), adopted a 2025 update to the prior 2022 Coordinated Plan. It is now considered the latest version of the FTA Section 5310 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan. It sets regional priorities for transportation investments and initiatives for human services and public transportation coordination. This plan will help guide funding and service development for transportation projects supporting older adults and people with disabilities in the region over the next five years.

View the current CPT-HST Plan (2025).

Previous CPT-HST Plan (2022)

CPT-HST Appendix A: Technical Memo

CPT-HST Appendix B: Public Engagement

Public Transit – Understanding How Planning and Funding Works

Public transportation, often referred to as public transit, includes buses, trains, and human services transportation that is available to the public. It provides access and mobility to residents from all walks of life.

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is the primary federal funding and planning partner for transit activities. FTA regulates and coordinates local, state and federal planning and funding and how it benefits the public (Transportation Planning | FTA (dot.gov)
• Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
• Urban Land Institute
• Transit definitions
• Transit planning/funding overview
• Rutgers National Transit Institute (NTI) is the official FTA education entity for training for public transportation and transit professionals.
  • NTI: https://www.ntionline.com/
  • NTI Courses: https://www.ntionline.com/courses/

• Memorandum of Understanding for 5307 Sub-allocation
• FTA finds more Americans riding public transportation – Transportation Today

Transit Information for the CRTPO Board and TCC Members, and Others Interested in a Deeper Dive into Transit Planning and Funding

FTA Section 5307 and 5340 transit funds along with other federal, state, and local transit funding programs are included in these on-going transit planning and funding activities. These federal transit programs are considered in the development of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP).

In June 2020, the CRTPO Board leadership created and tasked the Transit Education Initiative Task Force (TEI) to explore the needs and opportunities for changes in the federal transit funding programs within the Charlotte region. The primary focus of the TEI was understanding the transit needs throughout the CRTPO planning area and updating the adopted sub-allocation formula.

Visit the TEI page for more information.