Charlotte Area Transit System
| Charlotte Area Transit System | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Locale | Charlotte Metropolitan Area | ||
| Transit type | |||
Number of lines | 69 (bus and rail combined) | ||
Number of stations | 3,628 (bus and rail combined) | ||
Daily ridership | 50,700 (weekdays, Q2 2026) | ||
Annual ridership | 15,683,300 (2025) | ||
Chief executive | Brent Cagle | ||
| Headquarters | 300 East Trade Street, Charlotte | ||
| Website | https://charlottenc.gov/cats/Pages/default.aspx | ||
| Operation | |||
Began operation | 1999 | ||
| |||
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Established in 1999, CATS operates bus and rail transit services in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. CATS is governed by the Metropolitan Transit Commission and is operated as a department of the City of Charlotte. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 15,683,300, or about 50,700 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2026.