BATON ROUGE, LA – The indictment of a former contractor tied to the Capital Area Transit System has left Baton Rouge residents grappling with a revelation few were prepared for, that CATS apparently had money at some point.
According to prosecutors, funds were allegedly misappropriated during a period when the transit agency was already struggling with missed routes, broken buses, and schedules that appeared to be more fiction than fact. The news immediately raised questions among riders, many of whom said they were unaware the system had anything worth stealing.
“I assumed CATS ran entirely on broken promises and apologies,” said one daily rider, who added that the idea of available funds felt inconsistent with the experience he was used to. “If there was money, it definitely wasn’t spent on the bus I take.”
CATS officials stressed that the indictment would not impact reliability, noting that it has remained consistently poor for years regardless of leadership changes, audits, or that time they simultaneously had two CEOs on the payroll. “Our riders should expect the same level of performance they’ve grown accustomed to,” a spokesperson said.
City leaders echoed that sentiment, assuring residents that reforms would be discussed, studied, and eventually delayed, just like most CATS routes. ”Accountability is a priority,” they stated. ”Any corrective action will move forward on the same timetable as most CATS routes, eventually, and without notice.”
