[Charlotte-Mecklenburg-Chapter] Transportation ladder

[gerald moreno]

From: Marlon Stover <stovermd7 at gmail.com>
Date: June 16, 2026 at 8:55:44 PM EDT
To: gerald moreno <g.moreno1950 at outlook.com>
Subject: Transportation ladder


Good day.
I am writing as a representative of the riders, and members of Charlotte’s blind and disabled community to express serious concerns regarding ongoing issues within the Charlotte Area Transit System’s Special Transportation Service (STS).
We recognize and appreciate that various committees, advisory groups, transit boards, and local stakeholders are actively engaged in conversations surrounding transportation accessibility and transit operations throughout Charlotte. We also understand that CATS and STS are operating within the realities of staffing shortages, funding limitations, technological transitions, and rapid regional growth.
However, as the individuals directly impacted by these services every day, we believe it is essential that our voices and lived experiences remain centered in these discussions.
For many of us, STS is not simply a convenience. It is our connection to:

  *   medical care,
  *   employment,
  *   education,
  *   faith communities,
  *   family responsibilities, and
  *   independent participation in public life.
Over the past several months, riders have experienced repeated and systemic problems involving:

  *   severe communication failures,
  *   missed rides,
  *   excessively long travel times,
  *   inaccessible notification systems,
  *   unsafe drop-offs,
  *   lack of adequate accommodation for blind riders,
  *   inadequate follow-up on complaints, and
  *   situations where riders felt unsafe, ignored, or retaliated against after raising concerns.
Attached to this communication are:

  1.  A detailed letter outlining systemic concerns and rider experiences;
  2.  Specific rider testimonies documenting the real-world impact of these issues;
  3.  A list of requested remedies and policy improvements;
  4.  Examples of innovative and rider-centered solutions currently implemented by transit systems across the country facing similar operational challenges.
We want to emphasize that our intention is collaborative, not adversarial.
We are not approaching this issue simply to criticize the current system. We are reaching out because we believe meaningful improvements are possible when riders, transit leadership, elected officials, drivers, dispatchers, and disability advocates work together transparently and in good faith.
We are aware that formal grievance procedures exist and that these concerns can ultimately be escalated to state and federal agencies if necessary. However, you represent the very people we interact with every day, and our sincere preference is to address these concerns collaboratively at the local level before further escalation becomes necessary.
Our immediate request is for an opportunity to meet with the appropriate stakeholders to discuss:

  *   the concerns outlined in our communication,
  *   potential short-term and long-term solutions, and
  *   concrete next steps toward improving accessibility, reliability, safety, and accountability within STS.
We believe the disability community deserves to be heard directly, particularly because these issues affect our ability to safely navigate daily life with dignity and independence.
We appreciate your time and attention to these concerns and respectfully request that a meeting with the appropriate stakeholders be scheduled as soon as possible. The riders most directly affected by these policies and operational decisions deserve an opportunity to be heard in a timely and meaningful way.
We remain committed to approaching this conversation constructively and collaboratively, but the ongoing nature of these issues makes prompt action essential. We look forward to working together toward practical, actionable solutions that improve safety, accessibility, reliability, and accountability for the Charlotte disability community.
Thank you for your leadership and service to the Charlotte community.
Sincerely,
Alissa Nash

Sent from my iPhone
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