Meet Michael Christenbury
If you have ever used transportation on UNC Charlotte’s campus, you most likely have interacted with the work of Michael Christenbury. He has worked at the University for over five years, starting out as the transportation manager prior to promotion as assistant director for transportation in the Parking and Transportation Services Office. Christenbury is a soft-spoken man who operates in a world of constant motion — and he and his department have big plans for the future.
A life on the road
A Mooresville native and a self-proclaimed “transportation geek,” Christenbury has knowledge beyond his current leadership role. He obtained his commercial driver license at 18, the earliest legal age in North Carolina, and has driven nearly everything on wheels ever since.
“I have operated nearly every type of vehicle there is — fire trucks, large delivery vehicles, school buses, transit buses and full size motorcoaches,” Christenbury explained.
Even in his free time, Christenbury is drawn to things that get people places in a hurry. He routinely engages in wind therapy by riding his motorcycle, enjoys air shows, motor races and boat outings on Lake Norman.
Joining UNC Charlotte
After spending years in the private sector, Christenbury was ready for a new challenge. Several colleagues in the industry mentioned UNC Charlotte was a great place to work and was growing fast. Half a decade later, the University is still everything he could have hoped for.
“The sense of community is fantastic,” Christenbury said. “Within our department, we are kind of like a chosen family. I’ve made so many connections across campus in my short time at UNC Charlotte. Whether we’re meeting for lunch or collaborating on projects or initiatives, it’s a joy working with so many people that are not only proficient in their job, but are just really good people, which makes it the best of both worlds.”
Nowadays, Christenbury has his fingers on just about every mode of transportation on campus. He oversees Niner Transit and Paratransit services, chartered and special event transportation, micromobility services (scooters/bikes) and serves as the liaison to CATS light rail. Regardless of the mode of transportation, Christenbury is focused on delivering reliable and safe service.
“Customer service and passenger safety is extremely important to me and that was ingrained in me from my time in the private sector. Working at the University is no different,” Christenbury said. “I think it’s important to maintain a high standard of service, taking in campus affiliate feedback and continually striving to expand services to a point where they are increasingly beneficial to the community.”
Sustainable transportation and why it matters
One main goal Christenbury and the transportation team is tackling is shifting travel behaviors on campus and destigmatizing public transportation options. The goal is to encourage people to shift from using single occupancy vehicles (cars) to micromobility options, promoting buses and the light rail, carpooling and encouraging fewer trips during off-peak hours.
“I recently completed a nearly year-long role as a steering committee member for the regional Transportation Demand Management plan called CONNECT Centralina, a program focusing on a future where sustainable and affordable travel options are accessible, known and convenient to everyone in the greater Charlotte area. The University’s TDM plan will have the same goals, but the approach will be modified to meet the needs of our specific community.”
Innovation is a major part of the PaTS mission. Potential changes Christenbury outlined included swapping off-hour transit buses for fuel-efficient, on-demand vehicles, and replacing gas shuttles with electric shuttles. For some of these initiatives, the technology hasn’t caught up to the service needs, but for Christenbury, it’s all about integrating viable solutions to set UNC Charlotte on a path to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
“While the University may be a small part of the overall global effort, every person or organization that embraces a change to support more sustainable travel options can make a difference. As an institution for higher learning, we want to set that example for students, faculty and staff and the surrounding community partners.”
Transportation Fair, uplifting students
The annual Transportation Fair, part of Campus Sustainability Month, is set for Wednesday, Oct. 2, and it is a great opportunity for the UNC Charlotte community to learn all PaTS has to offer. It also serves as a forum to connect the community to the University’s partners such as CATS and Academy Bus, and affords sanctioned student organizations an opportunity to showcase their own initiatives related to transportation.
One final initiative Christenbury wanted to highlight revolves around UNC Charlotte students, specifically. He and his team are working to implement a Commercial Driver License program to enable properly-trained students to drive passenger-carrying vehicles like transit buses and shuttles, and further increase student involvement in campus transportation services. Christenbury noted, this will be a great opportunity to give Charlotte’s aspiring transportation professionals an advantage as they graduate and enter the workforce.