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Story summary
- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released an audit identifying 18 non-compliance areas in the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) after the murder of Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in August 2025.
- The audit revealed that assaults on CATS workers were five times the national average, and passenger crime rates were three times higher.
- CATS did not implement required safety assessments and de-escalation training, prompting the FTA to demand a corrective action plan within 30 days.
- Oversight of CATS will shift to a new regional authority later this year, following a voter-approved sales tax for transportation.
