Take a look around Charlotte, and you may spot a blast from the past rolling down the street. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is celebrating 50 years of transit in the Queen City with a series of specially wrapped buses featuring vintage designs from different eras of the system's history.

The anniversary honors five decades of moving Charlotte residents across a city that has transformed dramatically since the 1970s. What began as a bus-focused network has grown to include light rail and microtransit services connecting communities across Mecklenburg County.

"It's really exciting," Brent Cagle, interim CEO of CATS, told CLTtoday. "Celebrating 50 years of transit is huge for the community. It really shows the dedication of all of our employees, past and present."

Fun fact: Hornets legend Muggsy Bogues joined Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority Chair David Howard for a conversation about the milestone.

A bus with a blue and green lined design that reads 50 years of transit in Charlotte. — Where will you ride this newly decorated bus first? | Photo by CLTtoday

A quick look back

The City of Charlotte created Charlotte Transit in 1976. More than three decades later, the Blue Line launched in 2007, followed by an 11-mile extension in 2018. Today, CATS operates nearly 250 buses, 19 miles of light rail, and four miles of streetcar.

History meets the present

One of the vehicles featured during the anniversary celebration is an original Charlotte Transit GM "New Look Bus," complete with fiberglass seats and a retro design. The commemorative bus wraps are expected to remain on Charlotte streets for about six months. Keep your eyes peeled for a bright pink bus + take a ride while you can.