Embattled CATS CEO John Lewis resigns from position

CHARLOTTE — Embattled Charlotte Area Transit System CEO John Lewis is resigning from his position. His last day is Nov.30.

City manager Marcus Jones says a national search will be conducted to find a replacement. In the interim, assistant city manager and former aviation director Brent Cagle will serve as CEO of CATS.

“John has been a dedicated member of the city of Charlotte team, and he’s passionate. He’s a great advocate for transit, the community and the people we serve. We thank him for his time with us in his service to our community. I wish him the best in his next professional endeavors,” Jones said.

According to Jones, Lewis made the decision to resign after he accepted a job outside of transit. The departure comes as bus and streetcar riders grapple with numerous controversies including infrequent and unreliable service and uncertainty over the city’s transit expansion plans. Jones says restoring trust in the system and service is a priority.

“We know we have to restore the community’s confidence in the system,” Jones said. “I would say that this has been a difficult time for anybody who is running a transit organization in the country, and John experienced those same difficulties as we began to bench mark other organizations.”

Facing long pickup times and unreliable service, CATS cut some bus routes and expanded pickup times in August. In early 2022, CATS indefinitely delayed collecting fares for the streetcar. The streetcar has struggled to provide reliable pickup times and the number of passengers using the Gold Line is low.

A robust city plan to create new light-rail lines, increase bus service and expand the streetcar has languished for two years. The city hasn’t gotten authorization from the North Carolina General Assembly to put a sales tax increase referendum on the ballot. Mayor Vi Lyles has indicated the transit plan may now be tweaked.

Lewis’ resignation comes as the union for the CATS operators is in negotiation on a new contract with RATP Dev, the company that runs the city’s bus system. CATS bus drivers and riders have been voicing safety concerns for months.

In February 2022, CATS bus driver Ethan Rivera was shot and killed while on the job. Some drivers called for bulletproof glass in buses. Despite promises to look into the feasibility of bulletproof glass, CATS has not provided an update on the measure.

Incoming Interim CATS CEO Cagle said listening to employees is essential.

“Every great organization is great because of its people, and it’s the front line folks who we value the most for their service because they’re out there providing the service,” Cagle said. “My approach to management has always been to make it clear that a top priority for me is valuing our employees and understanding what they need, what management needs to do to help them do their jobs.”

Jones says the change in leadership for CATS is not a setback for the city pursuing its transit expansion goals.

“Many of these plans are years and years in the making, and we have an incredible team that has been working on these plans,” Jones said. “The team is just not limited to the city. For example, we have had a number of consultants working with us. So because we have such a multifaceted team working together, I believe that we will not miss a beat as it relates to moving forward with some of these very important projects.”

Charlotte City Council has increasingly questioned Lewis over the last few months. Councilman Tariq Bokhari has been calling for leadership change. City manager Marcus Jones ordered a third-party review of CATS. The results are due back in the coming weeks.

Lewis started in the position in September 2015 and oversaw the launch of the Blue Line extension and the Gold Line streetcar. Lewis was not made available for an interview.

Full statement from John Lewis:

Today, I made the difficult announcement to staff that I am departing CATS to pursue private sector opportunity. In my seven years with CATS, I am proud of the great work we achieved and that we showed up for the community every day. I am so thankful I had the privilege to make CATS and every employee a part of this chapter of my life, and I am excited to cheer on CATS as I continue to be a part of the Charlotte community as a transit advocate and rider.

Statement from Mayor Vi Lyles:

I’ve known John to be a dedicated and passionate professional – someone who deeply cares for this organization and this community. I want to thank John for this service and wish him the best in his new position. The City Manager and his leadership team will provide transit customers with reliable service with a focus on improved customer service.

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CATS reduced service begins Monday, causing frustrations for riders

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