Charlotte’s transportation future: Sales tax, bonds work together 

CITY OF CHARLOTTE

Voter approval of a $425 million city bond referendum will fast track infrastructure that improves neighborhood assets including streets and sidewalks.

Last November, Mecklenburg County voters made an important decision about our region's transportation future by approving a one-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. That funding creates an opportunity to expand our transit system, improve roads and invest in the infrastructure needed to support our growing region.

The promises made to our community during the one-cent sales tax campaign are underway with the support of a dynamic board of trustees, CATS staff and partner organizations. 

Now, Charlotte voters have another great opportunity to vote yes on a $425 million city bonds package, including a $280 million transportation bond.

A reasonable question to ask is: Didn’t we just approve transportation funding with the one-cent sales tax? Why is another transportation bond package needed?

The answer comes down to understanding how these two funding tools work together.

The one-cent sales tax provides a dedicated source of transportation revenue. Bonds provide a way to finance large projects upfront, using future revenues to repay the borrowing over time. Without bond financing, major improvements may need to wait while sufficient revenues accumulate year after year. With bonds, the city can make funding available for projects sooner and repay that investment over time.

This distinction matters because Charlotte’s transportation needs are not years away. They exist today.

The city’s proposed transportation bonds includes two major intersection improvements at Eastway Drive and Shamrock Drive and Ashley Road, Freedom Drive and Tuckasegee Road; one new street, phase two of Bryant Farms Road extension; and “complete street” improvements to better allow multiple modes of transportation; and improvements to Robinson Church Road, Brown-Grier Road, DeArmon Road and Shamrock Drive. 

They also include $50 million for sidewalks, $24 million for street resurfacing and $22 million for transportation safety improvements.

These investments would complement the broader transportation promises funded by the one-cent sales tax, which includes light rail, streetcar, buses, microtransit, and road improvements.

As chairman of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, I see how important coordination will be as we develop our transportation network. Expanding rail and bus service is only part of building an effective transportation system. Our community also needs safe streets, accessible sidewalks, and reliable connections to reach transit stations, workplaces, and destinations throughout the region.

The transportation sales tax and city bonds serve different purposes, but their investments complement one another to build a transportation system for today and tomorrow.

An important note, the city has stated that the proposed bonds are already incorporated into its existing financial plan, with no additional property tax rate increase planned to repay them. The city anticipates using a combination of existing revenue sources, including sales tax revenue, to support repayment.

Financing alone, however, does not guarantee faster construction. Project design, permitting, available contractors, and coordination between agencies will determine how quickly improvements are made.

Our region has an opportunity to coordinate transportation investments on a scale we have not previously experienced. We need you to vote yes for bonds so we can turn available funding into completed projects, with clear timelines, responsible financial management and measurable results for the people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

David Howard is the chairman of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority.

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