Charlotte City Council is expected to vote to purchase the Red Line on Sept. 3, documents reviewed by Channel 9′s Government Reporter Joe Bruno stated. The documents were crafted by top city leaders and have been shown to Charlotte city council members in small group meetings throughout July.
At the same meeting, council is expected to pass a resolution supporting a penny sales tax increase for transit.
Sept. 9 is the targeted closing date for the Red Line. More details on the project are expected to be revealed in meetings throughout August.
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In May, Channel 9 first reported the city agreed to a deal in principle with Norfolk Southern to acquire the O Line. Plans call for commuter rail from Uptown to Mount Mourne.
The city hopes the General Assembly will consider legislation in November to authorize the sales tax increase referendum. Other Mecklenburg County towns will also have to signal they are on board.
The city views the Red Line as fundamental to its transit plan. It’s been debated and discussed for decades. Plans for the Red Line have stalled due to Norfolk Southern’s years of resistance to sharing the track. The city of Charlotte started and made progress in negotiations throughout the past year. Northern Mecklenburg County towns have said the Red Line must be included in the transit package in order for them to support a sales tax increase.
According to the city’s PowerPoint presentation, the draft legislation asks county residents to decide whether to levy a one-cent sales tax increase for transit and transportation. Details of the proposed sales tax increase and transit authority have been reported by Charlotte Ledger, WFAE, Charlotte Observer, Channel 9 and other media outlets. The breakdown of the sales tax would be 60% for transit (40% rail, 20% bus) and 40% for roads. The proposed ballot language is “one percent (1%) local sales and use taxes, in addition to the current local sales and use taxes, to be used only for roadway systems and public transportation systems.”
According to the city, any unused rail funding can be rolled into bus investment. Road revenue would be directly distributed to towns and the city of Charlotte. Town allocations would be based on a combo of road miles, population, and transit service. Road funding would also go toward orphan roads, like Grand Palisades Parkway.
READ: Homeowners could be responsible for millions of dollars in road repairs
Plans call for the creation of a new transit authority to oversee the distribution of the tax dollars. It would be composed of 27 members: 12 appointed by the city, 12 by the county (including 6 from towns) and 3 by the state (1 by the governor, 2 by the legislature).
According to the city’s presentation, road funding includes streets and intersections, sidewalks and bicycle facilities, streetscapes and landscaping, street lighting, traffic control, EV infrastructure, and emerging intelligent transportation technologies. Greenway funding is not included. Transit funding includes bus and rail infrastructure and service, micro-transit, bus priority systems, mobility hubs, and dedicated portions of streets and roads for public transportation.
Rail projects under consideration for the city and region include the Red Line, Silver Line to the airport, Blue Line extension to Ballantyne and Gold Line extension up Beatties Ford and Central Avenue. Increasing Blue Line capacity with three-car stations is also listed in the rail program. Channel 9 previously reported the Silver Line to east Charlotte and Matthews may have to become bus rapid transit due to a lack of rail funding.
The city’s presentation projects $19.4 billion to be generated by the sales tax increase over 30 years. Year 1 of the sales tax increase is projected to bring in $345 million.
Charlotte City Council’s goal is for the referendum to be in 2025.
Charlotte City Council’s transit committee is expected to discuss the transit tax and Red Line at its committee meeting on Monday.
The City of Charlotte shared the following statement about the project:
“As has been previously reported, managers of Mecklenburg County, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill and Charlotte have been meeting along with outside counsel to discuss and develop draft language for potential legislation which, if approved by the state legislature, would enable the residents of Mecklenburg County to vote on a one-cent sales tax for roads and public transportation.
“The primary purpose of the legislation is to provide clear uses, boundaries and distribution methodologies for revenues generated by a potential one-cent sales tax and with 40 percent for roadway infrastructure, 40 percent for rail and 20 percent for bus; establish a regional transit authority; and provide protections and assurances for all participating bodies. Specific program costs have not been determined.
“The draft language has not yet been shared with legislators but reflects guidance based on their public comments. There is not currently consensus from all municipalities on draft language and the members of the General Assembly will ultimately determine legislation and if any legislation was passed.
“The City Manager and staff have had regular briefings with the Mayor-appointed council mobility working group which consists of Transportation, Planning & Development Committee Chair Ed Driggs, Committee Co-Chair James Mitchell and Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson. The City Manager also meets regularly with individual council members and discusses a number of items with them including mobility.
“City staff is continuing negotiations with Norfolk Southern to acquire the Red Line with an anticipated closing in early September. Any transactions will be reviewed and approved by City Council. We anticipate council will have public discussions in August and take action in early September.”
(WATCH BELOW: Public invited to learn more about proposed rail from Meck to Iredell counties)
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