Transportation and Transit
Transportation and transit create a support system that drives a region, and provide pathways to growth. Transportation is the big picture – highways, sidewalks, bike lanes, and airports. Transit refers to public systems designed to move large numbers of people efficiently, such as buses, light rail, commuter trains, and shuttles.
What would you like to learn?
What is transportation and transit?
Transportation and transit create a support system that drives a region, and provide pathways to growth.
Transportation is the big picture – highways, sidewalks, bike lanes, and airports. Transit refers to public systems designed to move large numbers of people efficiently, such as buses, light rail, commuter trains, and shuttles.
Well-designed transportation and transit systems can improve our quality of life and increase upward mobility. Efficient transit limits congestion, shortens commutes, lowers emissions, and contributes to overall healthier communities.
When we can move around a city with ease and affordability, we have access to opportunities, including jobs, housing, schools, healthcare, and essential services.
Investments by the public and communities in transportation and transit systems can shape a region’s future, making intentional, long-term planning designed to achieve equitable outcomes for everyone a high priority.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on transportation and transit
3-4%
of U.S. commuters use public transit
80%
of commutes in Mecklenburg County are made in private vehicles
24%
of the income earned by low-income households nationally is spent on transportation
64
hours per year are spent stuck in traffic by the average Charlotte driver
53.6M
passengers served at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2025, 2nd busiest year on record
15M
passenger trips annually served by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Sources
- Commuting in the U.S. Facts and Statistics
- Charlotte’s Changing Commute Patterns
- How Commuters with Low Incomes Use Public Transit and How One City Expanded Ridership
- Charlotte is spending more time stuck in traffic than ever
- CLT Welcomes 53.6 Million Passengers in 2025, Second Busiest Year on Record
- Attention CATS Riders: Rail Trail Closures
What is happening now?
The Charlotte region is growing rapidly. Decades of suburban development have produced a car-centric city reliant on major highway corridors—I-77, I-85, and I-485—which now experience increasing congestion as population growth outpaces infrastructure investment.
Public transit—bus, light rail, and streetcar—is currently operated by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and will transition to the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) by early 2027. The MPTA is tasked with expanding and modernizing transit, improving regional connectivity, and implementing the CATS 2055 Transit System Plan, including bus, rail, and microtransit enhancements across Mecklenburg County.
The LYNX Blue Line, launched in 2007 from south Charlotte to the University area, has driven significant development, particularly in South End.
With more than 150 people moving to the region daily, transportation is a top community priority. In November 2025, voters approved a 1‑cent sales tax increase expected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years to transform local transit.
This historic investment will fund major projects including commuter rail as well as extension of light rail to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), which is one of the largest airports in the U.S. and vital to the growth of the city.
Near-term improvements include more frequent bus service, expanded microtransit, new shelters, and improved roads, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure—building a more connected future for all of us.
Donate or volunteer now
To donate and volunteer with nonprofits working in Transportation and Transit, visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Transportation.
Take Action
Choose a card below to learn more.
Learn Who is Leading
Give Back Financially
Volunteer
Support Community Advocacy
Utilize Public Transit
Align Priorities
Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
Leads collaborative efforts to ensure our regional transportation and mobility systems work harmoniously, making the greater Charlotte area more economically competitive.
Operates buses, light rail, and streetcars, connecting residents to jobs, services, and neighborhoods. Transfers to MPTA in 2027.
Envisions and activates strategies and actions to assure Charlotte Center City is a welcoming and equitable, economically vibrant, culturally rich, and beloved place for all.
Provides leadership and collaboration with member communities and partners in developing our region’s transportation system
Enhances the driving, bicycling and walking experience through planning, operating and maintaining the city’s transportation choices for residents and visitors.
Equips and advocates for people with disabilities and seniors to allow them to obtain a more mobile lifestyle and to be out and about in the community.
Provides coordinated non-emergency medical and general public transportation to eligible residents not living in an assisted living facility or nursing home in Mecklenburg County.
Charged with modernizing transit infrastructure and increasing mobility options in Mecklenburg County.
Oversees all modes of transportation in the state, including highways, rail, aviation, public , and bicycle and pedestrian transportation.
Focuses on smart growth, transit investment, and reducing car dependency through community-centered advocacy.
Provides resources for transportation and land use planning – especially around transit-oriented development.
Tools and Resources
Everything you need in one place. Browse articles, reports, and tools that support your journey.
![2[1]](https://fftcfwd.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/21-1024x325.webp)
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
Commuter rail/light rail
Train service that connects suburban residential areas with a central business district.
First/last mile
What it Means: The beginning or end of a trip to or from a transit stop. Weak first/last mile connections limit transit usage.
Freight
Goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
Public transit
Public systems that physically transport people. Includes cars, rail, and busing that serve as a city’s mobility network.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Development (housing, retail, offices) near transit stations that encourages walking, transit use, and reduced car use.
Transportation
The design of transit system infrastructure (roads, railroads, walkways) that shapes how people move in a region.
Download the Transportation and Transit folio
Special thanks to cover artist, Molly Partyka!
Connecting the Dots
View related folios
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
Builder Button → Share Your Feedback With Us
Let's Build Something Awesome Together
We didn’t build this alone – and we’re not done yet. This site grows with input from real people across Charlotte. Got feedback? A topic we missed? A story to share? Click the Builder Button below.
