FTA Cites CATS For 18 Federal Safety Standard Failures

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a report detailing 18 distinct areas where the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is non-compliant with federally mandated safety protocols. The findings stem from an FTA audit of CATS’s adherence to 49 CFR Part 673, the regulation governing Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP). This federal investigation was initiated following a fatal passenger stabbing on the Lynx Blue light-rail line in 2025.

The audit identified critical performance issues within CATS’s safety management structure. Deficiencies were noted in the agency’s processes for assessing operational risk and for tracking the implementation of system fixes. FTA officials also highlighted inadequate de-escalation training for staff members. The report’s scope included a formal evaluation of how CATS management responded to previous FTA directives and correspondence regarding safety risks, particularly those related to assaults on transit employees.

The PTASP program, established under 49 CFR Part 673, requires transit agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS). This system must include specific processes for safety management policy, risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. The FTA’s findings indicate systemic breakdowns in CATS’s ability to execute these core SMS components, moving beyond isolated incidents to suggest procedural failures.

Compounding the agency’s regulatory challenges are ongoing operational disruptions. Concurrently with the release of the FTA report, CATS suspended its Gold Line streetcar service. The transit authority stated the suspension was necessary due to an unspecified issue discovered during the final testing phase for the line’s planned reopening. This marks another service interruption for the streetcar, reflecting wider reliability problems across the CATS network.

The audit’s conclusions necessitate a formal corrective action plan from CATS, which will be subject to FTA approval and oversight. The agency must now address the 18 points of failure to re-establish compliance and remediate the safety risks identified by federal regulators.