State auditor report flags CATS security gaps, fare enforcement failures
The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor has released a report faulting the Charlotte Area Transit System for security concerns, fare enforcement problems and unspent safety funding.
The Aug. 17 Rapid Response Special Report found that CATS estimates it loses between $5 million and $6.5 million each year because of fare evasion. The report also said an estimated 45% of bus and light rail riders do not pay to ride, including 35% of bus riders and 60% of light rail riders.
Auditors found enforcement has declined. Fare evasion citations fell from 4,763 in 2023 to 2,018 in 2025. Fine collections on the light rail system totaled $750 in state fiscal year 2024 and $550 in state fiscal year 2025, according to the auditor’s office.
The report also identified $1.7 million in unspent funding for safety and security equipment. It followed a preliminary report issued after the killing of Iryna Zarutska on a CATS light rail train.
CATS told auditors that bus drivers had been instructed not to enforce fares because of concerns about altercations. Light rail operators are not responsible for fare collection, according to the auditor’s office.
State Auditor Dave Boliek said the City of Charlotte, CATS and the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority need to act on transit security. The report recommends gates or turnstiles at light rail stations, along with other steps.
The City of Charlotte’s response is included in the report. According to the auditor’s office, the city said a new fare enforcement ambassador team of more than 60 uniformed personnel will begin in October.
Although CATS is a local transit system, the report carries statewide government-accountability significance because it was issued by the state auditor and focuses on public safety, fare revenue, enforcement practices and use of public funds.
Editor’s note:
This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
