It’s time to move Charlotte transportation forward

CITY OF CHARLOTTE

Mecklenburg County voters are deciding the fate of a 1% sales tax referendum that would fund transportation initiatives for the region.

One of the defining moments of my life as both an urbanist and a native Charlottean came on the opening day of the Light Rail in November 2007. 
At the time, Charlotte felt a bit rudderless. It was growing, but to what end? I had just graduated from college in Savannah, was living at my parents’ house with my girlfriend, and we spent our days dreaming of bigger, better things and a future we imagined for ourselves in New York City.

I still remember stepping onto that train filled with curiosity, my mind racing, unsure of what to expect. Suddenly, a series of beeps broke my thoughts, followed by an electronic voice announcing, “Train’s a moving, train’s a moving.” As we pulled away from the I-485 station, I saw my hometown as if through new eyes. In that moment, I saw a city capable of leading a new South — one defined not just by banks and skyscrapers but by connection, opportunity, and neighborhoods that could thrive as centers of commerce and community.

Nearly 18 years later, as those same trains still roll toward Uptown, I now find myself riding them several times a week. On an average week, I take the train four to six times for work, meetings, events, and simply to move through my city. 

I’ve also relied on the bus system across at least eight different routes over the years, using it for professional errands, social visits, and even for my health and well-being. My life and career in marketing, public policy, and content creation have been shaped by a commitment to living car-light and by the belief that great cities give people real choices in how they move, connect, and live.

With state and federal governments increasingly reluctant to invest in large urban areas, we must take responsibility for funding our own future. Sunny days may come again, but we cannot afford to wait for perfect conditions or perfect plans. Incremental steps will not relieve the congestion choking a city where 76% of trips are made by car. This referendum isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, and about saying that our city, our region, and our future are worth investing in.

Even as a daily transit rider, I recognize the limitations our road network faces when it comes to moving people efficiently. This referendum will unlock a tidal wave of resources for Mecklenburg County — about $260 million a year — to invest directly in improving the roads, intersections, and corridors we all rely on. That level of funding is transformational.

First, we need to prioritize completing the full Silver Line to Matthews rather than stretching limited funds toward Pineville. We also need to recognize that light rail has practical limitations over long distances and ensure that bus rapid transit and other multimodal solutions fill the gaps where light rail cannot and should not.

Second, we must protect the small business owners who fear disruption from construction, particularly in neighborhoods like Plaza Midwood. The mistakes made on Elizabeth Avenue during the streetcar buildout cannot be repeated. Communication, mitigation, and investment in local businesses during construction must be part of the plan from day one.

Third, we need to recognize that a Better Bus won’t happen without a transformational investment in how we market our bus system. We have to confront the long-standing perception problem by creating and promoting a service that is clean, frequent, reliable, and comfortable.

We need a system strong enough to attract more choice riders — people who might say, “This trip may take ten minutes longer, but I can play Wordle, answer a few emails, or take a twenty-minute nap.”

Finally, we need to think not just about transportation but about the communities it connects. Land banking and community land trusts should be key tools to prevent displacement and to ensure that the neighborhoods we invest in remain accessible to the people who built them. Every mile of new transit should bring with it a mix of workforce and market-rate housing, walkable streets, and safe, vibrant public spaces.

“Transit is the great equalizer” as a wise individual once said, and making investments in how our community moves far outweighs the cost of adding 1% to every non-essential transaction.

So why, when I can still find so many faults and so many questions, do I still support a sales tax referendum? Let me answer with a question. To the parents reading this: when your child outgrows their clothes, do you wait until the right outfit pops up, or do you buy what they need? When a problem exists in your life, you solve it. It’s not always easy, it doesn’t always go to plan, but you make it happen. We shouldn’t sit idly by while our city bursts at the seams like a child waiting for next school year’s outfit.

Charlotte’s next chapter depends on our ability to connect people to opportunity—safely, affordably, and sustainably. When I think back to that first ride in 2007, I remember the feeling of possibility, the sense that my city could be something greater. We have that opportunity again now. Let’s take the step forward.

Clayton Sealey is founder and chief creative officer of CLT Development, and co-host of the Shaping Charlotte podcast.

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