When VIA hired its current Executive Director and CEO Keith Parker in 2009, he was fresh from a major success at his previous job: While he was at the helm, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) launched a new light rail line which handily exceeded all ridership projections. Parker was hailed as a leader who could overcome political opposition from conservatives, and accomplish forward-looking transit goals efficiently.

Two years on, Charlotte’s Lynx system is still quite popular, but is running up against some of the same problems that plague many US light rail systems.

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