This is Part 1 of a two-part series aimed at providing information about the proposed sales tax increase and how the projects it will fund if approved might affect the Monroe Road corridor. In this article we will focus on the impact the tax referendum could have on Monroe Road relating to rail transit and buses. Later this week, we will talk about roads.
One of the reasons MoRA (Monroe Road Advocates) originally came together was because we believed that a vibrant Monroe Road corridor that is safe and comfortable for everyone (drivers, bikers, walkers and bus riders) is essential to the health of neighborhoods, businesses, and schools along its route.
Since the Silver Line light rail project was proposed, MoRA has been engaged – attending public meetings, meeting with CDOT, city officials and staff – recognizing the potential for that project to transform the corridor.
The recently-proposed transit tax has resulted in lots of proposed changes to plans for the Silver Line, buses and roads. We want to share what we know about the upcoming tax referendum, and what it might mean for our Monroe Road community. We hope that this information will help everyone be better informed, so that they can make an informed vote.
The basics
- A one-cent sales tax is being proposed, increasing the tax rate from 7.25% to 8.25% on all goods and services (with the exemption of food, medicine, certain medical equipment, and vehicles).
- The proposed sales tax increase is expected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years.
- State law requires that at least 40% of the money received from the tax must be spent on roads or road-related projects, such as sidewalks and streetlights.
- Additionally, no more than 40% can be spent on rail transit, and 20% must be spent on other transit uses, like buses and “micro transit,” which we will explain a bit more below.
Rail transit
Planners have determined that, because of the 40% limit on use of the sales tax proceeds on rail, the Silver Line light rail can’t be fully implemented as it was originally envisioned – that is, starting in Belmont and ending in Matthews, with stops at the airport, Uptown, the Bojangles Coliseum, traveling along Independence Boulevard and parts of Monroe Road.
The current funding plan calls for an abridged version of Silver Line to be built from the airport to the Bojangles Coliseum. However, we have been told that CATS continues to “value engineer” to see if the line can be extended further east, towards Matthews.
The tax could fully fund the Red Line commuter rail from Mooresville to uptown, an extension of the Gold Line, and a short extension of the Blue Line from its current endpoint to Pineville. It should be noted that none of these rail projects is guaranteed to occur under the sales tax legislation. The Red Line is the most likely to be finished first, since no other rail project can be completed until 50% of the Red Line is completed.
MoRA has met with county commissioners and city council members since these changes to the scope of the Silver Line were announced, and expressed to them the organization’s deep disappointment at this outcome. However, MoRA also recognizes the many potential benefits the sales tax proceeds may bring to the Monroe Road corridor and other areas of the city, some of which we discuss here and in our next article.
Buses
If the new sales tax is approved, 20% of all new revenue must be spent on the bus system and on microtransit, which is an on-demand service run by CATS similar to Uber. Fifteen routes, including Monroe Road, would be upgraded to 15-minute service. All other routes would have a bus arriving at least every 30 minutes.
Photo: Andrew Shelton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For people who rely on the bus, improved frequency and reliability means getting to and from work or school or errands more predictably and easily.
Microtransit – being able to call for a car to take you to the bus stop or a nearby destination – adds to the functionality of the proposed bus system.
In addition to more frequent bus service, CATS plans to upgrade about 2,000 bus stops with benches and shelters, offering bus riders a place to sit and protection from the elements. And bicyclists, take note: bike racks will be available at ‘mobility hubs’ (enhanced bus stops) — and new buses will have bike racks. In addition to these improvements for cyclists, as we will discuss in Part Two, there is also the opportunity under the sales tax legislation to create safer and more connected biking opportunities with the funds designated under roads.
Real transformation could come with the funding allocated to roads. Which we will discuss in our next article.
Featured photo: James Willamor/Flickr
Monroe Road Advocates (MoRA) is grassroots group of volunteers from Monroe Road neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, and schools. We’re connecting community in the corridor from Lupie’s/7th Street to NC-51.
