Another advance for Mecklenburg transit tax vote

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

A transportation bill sponsored by Charlotte Republican Tricia Cotham made its second reading in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The bill, if approved by lawmakers, would advance a 1-cent transit tax referendum for Mecklenburg County on November’s ballot.

Mecklenburg County’s transit tax referendum is a step closer to reality. 

The North Carolina House of Representatives voted 102-6 last week to approve the second reading of the PAVE Act, a local option sales tax bill sponsored by Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Charlotte Republican. The bill moves to the third reading in the House and advances to the state Senate.

“This is a historic moment for Mecklenburg County,” Shannon Binns, executive director of Sustain Charlotte said in a statement. “After more than five years of tireless advocacy, negotiation, and collaboration, we are finally within reach of allowing our community to vote on the kind of transportation system we need and deserve.”

The Metropolitan Transit Commission voted May 28 to adopt a proposal that prioritizes a 50% increase in bus service with 43 miles of new rail service along rapid transit corridors. Charlotte Area Transit System made an April recommendation to the transit commission for a vote.

The bill splits the share of funds among 60% for roads and 40% for rail transit. 

Charlotte leaders have long called for greater investment in transit to improve economic mobility along with backing a 1-cent mobility sales tax referendum. According to the National Campaign for Transit Justice, 60% of public transit riders in the United States are people of color, with Black people making up 25%, followed by Hispanics at 20%. Those rates are like the percentage of households that lack personal transportation, including 18% of Black people, 13% of indigenous Americans and 11% of Hispanics.

According to Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, 117 people move to the Charlotte Region every day and by 2050, the region’s population is expected to increase by nearly 50%. Bill proponents contend it will transform the region’s transportation infrastructure to meet the future needs and make it attractive for businesses to expand and relocate.

“Today the North Carolina House of Representatives took a massive step forward for the Charlotte region and the entire state by passing HB 948 on its second reading,” said Robert McCutcheon, CEO of CLT Alliance. … “HB 948 gives Mecklenburg voters the opportunity to approve bold transportation solutions for their region, ensuring that the demands of future growth will not outpace capacity. This is a great day for our community, and we are looking forward to working with the North Carolina Senate to enable action on this bill after third reading in the House at the earliest opportunity." 

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