Cost of big-ticket transit plan in Charlotte, N.C., just went up

Officials in Charlotte, N.C., continue to support a massive transit plan for the region, but the cost has gone up.

Back in December, an advisory group said the endeavor would cost between $8 billion to $12 billion. However, on June 29 it was revealed the cost for rail and bus rapid transit projects alone would be $11.6 billion. When you figure in projects that will serve pedestrians and bicyclists, the total now sits at $13.5 billion. That price tag also is subject to go up during the 18-year construction period.

Federal and local funding, including a one-cent mobility tax, will cover the cost of the transit boom, and Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones said the mobility tax would cover all projects of the Transformational Mobility Network, including the Red Line and Silver Line.

The sales tax revenue is expected to cover $7 billion of the $11.6 billion in transit costs, and will not begin until 2023. The one-cent tax still needs approval from the state’s General Assembly, and Mecklenberg County commissioners need to approve putting the tax referendum on a future ballot. The tax is getting resistance from those in north Mecklenberg County.

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