By Herbert L. White
The Charlotte Post
By approving a 1% transportation sales tax, Mecklenburg County voters delivered on local investment in transportation infrastructure.
The referendum, which passed with 54% of votes cast, would raise the county sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25%. A coalition of business and civic leaders backed the measure, which commits Mecklenburg to funding roadways and public transportation. The proposed tax is projected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years for bus system modernizations (20%) road and pedestrian upgrades (40%), and rail expansion (40%).
“Tonight, our community chose progress,” said Shannon Binns, founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte in a statement. “By voting yes, residents affirmed that everyone deserves safe, affordable, and reliable ways to get around — no matter where they live or how they travel.
This is a win for working families, for public health, for clean air, and for our economic future.
We celebrate tonight — and tomorrow we begin the work to deliver on this promise together.”
The referendum’s passage would add:
- Bus stops that can be accessed by additional 450,000 people
- 2,000 new shelters, benches, and waiting pads
- Micro transit zones consisting of 18 new hubs across Mecklenburg
- 89 new buses
- 12 miles of track for light rail, with 10 miles for Silver Line from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium and 2 miles for the Blue Line extension from I-485/South Boulevard to Carolina Place Mall in Pineville
- 6 miles for the Gold Line extension, which stretches from Eastland in east Charlotte to Rosa Parks Place in the west
- 25 miles for the Red Line commuter rail from Center City to south Iredell County
- Silver Line rail extensions west to I-485 and east to Matthews and the Blue Line to Ballantyne if funding allows, and upgraded bus service in the interim
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance collaborated with nonprofits to back the referendum. Corporations like Bank of America and Atrium Advocate Health as well as nonprofits Crisis Assistance Ministries and Urban League of Central Carolinas announced their support.
The referendum had critics, who chided the measure as lacking transparency in planning and its regressive tax, which will disproportionately impact lower-income people. Progressive advocacy groups like Action NC and Southern Coalition for Social Justice asserted the referendum didn’t provide enough detail on what is included in the tax or whether it’s permanent. also opposed the tax.
Grassroots advocates also have concerns about a lack of diversity on the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority’s board of trustees.
The transportation sales tax wasn’t the only issue on the ballot.
Incumbent Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, breezed to a fifth term with 70% of the vote compared to Republican Terrie Donovan’s 25.8%. Democrats will occupy 10 of 11 seats on City Council with Kimberly Owens’ win against Krista Bokhari in District 6. Owens, who lost a close race to Bokhari’s husband Tariq in 2023, earned 56.4% of votes cast.
All four Democratic at-large candidates – Dimple Ajmera, Victoria Watlington, James Mitchell and LaWana Slack-Mayfield – were re-elected. First-time candidate Joi Mayo will succeed Tiawana Brown as the District 3 representative after garnering 73.7% of votes cast.
