In a move responding to escalating concerns over public safety on Charlotte's public transportation, the State Auditor's Office will be launching an investigation into the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). A series of violent incidents on CATS buses and the light rail have prompted this scrutiny. The audit, announced earlier today, will zero in on the efficacy and management of CATS's safety measures.
The investigation by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) will particularly look into the private security contracts, the public safety data and metrics utilized by CATS, and the budget dedicated to safety and security measures. In the words of State Auditor Dave Boliek, "One of the most basic duties a government owes the people is public safety." Boliek further stated in a release obtained by the official site that the "recent lawlessness and violence that have taken place on Charlotte’s public transportation raise serious questions about the security measures in place."
Charlotte has suffered through several violent incidents recently, such as the case in March where a 64-year-old veteran was attacked on a CATS bus, resulting in paralysis. A few months after, another veteran aged 57 was hospitalized post an assault on a CATS bus. Following these events, a repeat offender who served time for armed robbery fatally stabbed a woman on the light rail. These events have collectively led to a crisis of confidence in CATS's ability to provide a safe environment for its passengers.
The investigation is set to begin immediately, and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, and CATS leadership have been notified. A special report from the Office of the State Auditor on the City of Charlotte’s payments to the chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is also expected within the week. Both the investigation and the report aim to review the city’s public transportation safety protocols.
