Ely Portillo

Ely Portillo is assistant director of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, where he has worked since 2019. During a decade at the Charlotte Observer, Ely covered local government, growth, development and the region's growing pains for the local paper.

Charlotte in Motion

Apr 18, 2024

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12 min read

A Red Line reboot

It's still called the Red Line, and the route is the same. But everything else in CATS' commuter rail plans could change.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Feb 8, 2024

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11 min read

It's a winding road to the future

Experiments with new technologies don't always yield immediate success.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Why Gastonia is getting rid of its buses

Jan 11, 2024

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10 min read

Why Gastonia is getting rid of its buses

With traditional buses aging and failing to offer equitable service, ‘we needed to think about other alternatives,’ transportation director says

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

What do this week's elections tell us about transit?

Nov 9, 2023

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8 min read

What do this week's elections tell us about transit?

Now that voters have spoken, it's time to read some tea leaves.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Oct 5, 2023

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9 min read

So what’s a 'mobility hub,' anyway?

Buses, scooters, bikes and more — all in one spot

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

What if we treated car crashes like plane crashes?

Aug 31, 2023

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11 min read

What if we treated car crashes like plane crashes?

Analysts dissect a fatal wreck — and find ways Charlotte and NCDOT can do better

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Driverless cars might actually slow traffic

Aug 24, 2023

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11 min read

Driverless cars might actually slow traffic

Self-driving vehicles were tested in Charlotte — what will happen when the technology improves?

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Four questions CATS must answer to get back on track

Apr 20, 2023

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12 min read

Four questions CATS must answer to get back on track

After a series of revelations, the city faces decisions on leadership, restoring trust, setting priorities — and the fate of its vision for transit

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Feb 2, 2023

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11 min read

Transit talks feel like 'Groundhog Day'

It's the same discussions, over and over again; If Bill Murray figured a way out, can Charlotte?

Tony Mecia, +1

Charlotte in Motion

Management review finds CATS needs a major overhaul

Jan 5, 2023

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12 min read

Management review finds CATS needs a major overhaul

Plus: City Council committee backs underground bus station and a Silver Line route that avoids middle of center city

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

2022 in transit: plenty of planning, little movement

Dec 15, 2022

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13 min read

2022 in transit: plenty of planning, little movement

The Silver Line is coming into focus. Bus routes have been restored. Bond money will start flowing. But the big questions on a comprehensive transit plan remain unresolved.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Drivers flooded Charlotte with opposition to bus lanes

Oct 13, 2022

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12 min read

Drivers flooded Charlotte with opposition to bus lanes

A CATS survey regarding an experiment switching Central Avenue lanes to bus-only lanes points to the hurdles CATS will have to overcome

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

New strategy for transit plan: Go regional

Sep 22, 2022

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11 min read

New strategy for transit plan: Go regional

Counties surrounding Mecklenburg seen as key to reworking stalled effort

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Sep 8, 2022

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14 min read

Shrinking Charlotte’s transit ambitions

There are options for smaller measures that could be more achievable than the $13.5 billion Charlotte MOVES plan

Steve Harrison, +1

Charlotte in Motion

4 things I wish I’d known about Charlotte transit

Aug 18, 2022

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13 min read

4 things I wish I’d known about Charlotte transit

If we understand how the system works, we can better find a way forward

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

CATS plans to cut buses amid driver shortage

Jul 14, 2022

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10 min read

CATS plans to cut buses amid driver shortage

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte’s new mobility plan: ambitious goals, tons of data

Jun 30, 2022

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12 min read

Charlotte’s new mobility plan: ambitious goals, tons of data

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte to consider smaller alternatives to buses

Jun 2, 2022

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10 min read

Charlotte to consider smaller alternatives to buses

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte's robot and drone experiments are multiplying

Apr 28, 2022

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13 min read

Charlotte's robot and drone experiments are multiplying

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Transit Time: As Charlotte grows, is transportation funding keeping pace?

Mar 17, 2022

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12 min read

Transit Time: As Charlotte grows, is transportation funding keeping pace?

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Transit Time: CATS needs staff and money, transit chief says

Feb 17, 2022

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13 min read

Transit Time: CATS needs staff and money, transit chief says

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Transit Time: Charlotte's transportation challenges cross county lines

Feb 3, 2022

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11 min read

Transit Time: Charlotte's transportation challenges cross county lines

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Dec 16, 2021

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12 min read

Transit Time: The storylines for 2022

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Transit Time: Should Charlotte bring back traffic cameras?

Oct 21, 2021

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14 min read

Transit Time: Should Charlotte bring back traffic cameras?

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo

Charlotte in Motion

Transit Time: Lessons from Thomas and friends

Sep 23, 2021

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12 min read

Transit Time: Lessons from Thomas and friends

You’re reading Transit Time, a weekly newsletter for Charlotte people who leave the house.

Ely Portillo