CITY OF CHARLOTTE

Charlotte Area Transit System CEO John Lewis is resigning on Nov. 30 to work in the private sector.

Charlotte Transit System CEO John Lewis is making plans to disembark after seven years.

Lewis is resigning effective Nov. 30 and Assistant City Manager Brent Cagle will succeed him on an interim basis while a national search is conducted for Lewis’ replacement. Cagle was previously Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s aviation director.

“Today, I made the difficult announcement to staff that I am departing CATS to pursue private sector opportunity,” Lewis said in a prepared statement. “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.”

Lewis oversaw expansion of the Lynx Blue Line light rail past UNC Charlotte and the Gold Line’s debut into the Beatties Ford Road corridor but took criticism for shoddy customer service in recent months as ridership across CATS plummeted. Bus driver resignations increased after their colleague Ethan Rivera, 41, was shot and killed in a February road-rage incident, sparking safety concerns among employees and riders. Riders complained that routes were often late or didn’t arrive at all.

Ridership plummeted from 23.9 million passengers in 2014 to 15.6 million five years later according to the Federal Transit Administration. The COVID-19 pandemic drove ridership lower, falling to 5.9 million bus commuters in 2022, a 75% nosedive that’s worst among the nation’s largest cities.

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

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