Charlotte transit riders could see more fare checks and visible security as CATS updates its safety plan
Charlotte NC – CATS told Charlotte leaders riders should expect more visible security and fare checks, while bigger transit-policing changes remain farther off.
Charlotte transit riders may soon notice more proof-of-payment checks and a heavier visible security presence across the CATS system.
At the Charlotte City Council Safety Committee meeting on April 6, interim CEO Brent Cagle told city leaders the transit agency is updating its safety plan with a mix of steps already underway and others still being built out. For riders, the practical takeaway is fairly simple: more security visibility is happening now, while a dedicated fare-inspection team appears to be the next major change CATS wants to put in place.
What riders may notice first
CATS and local TV reporting say the agency is already leaning on off-duty police, contracted security, cameras and staff training as its first line of response.
According to the city’s rider-facing safety page, CATS says its third-party security partner is now fully staffed along the Blue Line and backed by more than 1,000 hours of off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police support. The agency also says nearly 4,500 cameras are active across buses, trains and stations, with more upgrades planned after a review of blind spots.
WSOC TV reported that Cagle told the committee CATS has installed systemwide live-stream security cameras, expanded off-duty police coverage and provided de-escalation training for frontline staff. Those are the changes riders are most likely to feel immediately, especially on rail platforms, trains and busy transit hubs.
Why fare checks are moving to the center of the plan
The next visible shift could be fare enforcement. The CATS safety page says a dedicated Fare Inspection Team will launch in 2026 to conduct proof-of-payment checks and provide customer assistance. The agency also says riders should expect ongoing fare enforcement across both bus and rail.
Spectrum News 1 reported that CATS is developing that team through a request-for-proposals process and that Cagle told leaders about 45% of riders are not paying fares. That figure should be treated as a CATS claim reported by Spectrum, not as an independently verified public statistic.
The larger point for residents is that CATS is framing fare enforcement as part of system order and rider confidence, not as a standalone answer to violent crime. Its formal security plan lists fare policy and fare enforcement as one of the core parts of the strategy and says fare inspectors would handle proof-of-payment checks with security backup when needed.
What is still in planning, not finished
Some of the ideas getting attention are still clearly in development.
WSOC TV and Spectrum News 1 both reported that CATS is researching artificial intelligence and advanced video analytics. The official plan describes that work as research and pilot programs, not a systemwide rollout. The same document also places an in-house transit police department in a longer-term category, meaning it should not be treated as approved or imminent.
That matters because the timelines are not the same. A fare-inspection team is presented as a near-term operational change. A transit police department would be a much bigger structural decision tied to staffing, funding, planning and likely additional approvals.
Why CATS is under pressure now
This is not just a messaging exercise. A focused Federal Transit Administration audit released in February found 18 findings of non-compliance for CATS. The audit also said the rate of crimes against passengers on the system was three times the national average, while assaults on transit workers had jumped to five times the national average in 2025.
That federal scrutiny helps explain why CATS is now talking not just about more officers or more cameras, but about documented fixes, staffing plans, policy changes and better monitoring.
What to watch next
For riders and employers who depend on transit, the next question is whether the plan turns into funded positions, signed contracts and measurable on-the-ground changes.
In the short run, riders should expect more visible security and a push toward proof-of-payment checks in 2026. In the longer run, watch for budget follow-through, procurement moves on fare inspection, and whether CATS advances any formal proposal for a transit police department beyond the planning stage.
