Even if voters approve a new one-cent transit sales tax, will Charlotte be able to deliver on its promise of two new commuter rail lines and a new bus rapid transit line?

For the last four years, Charlotte and its transit agency have been working on a $13.5 billion rail-focused transportation plan. The plan hinges on the passage of a one-cent transit sales tax, 80 percent of which was originally planned to go toward building three new rail lines (the city currently only has one). But, according to an article from local NPR news outlet WFAE 90.7, recent political maneuverings to gain support of Republican legislators could be eroding the city’s ability to deliver on its ambitious transit promises.
“In a bid to win support from Republican legislators who want more money for roads, Charlotte and the Mecklenburg towns have agreed to a new framework that caps the amount of new money spent on trains at 40%. Roads would get 40% of new sales tax revenue and 20% would be set aside for things like buses,” writes Steve Harrison. As a result, the proposed — and most expensive — 26-mile Silver Line project from uptown to the town of Matthews will be replaced with bus rapid transit. “Matthews leaders are livid,” and the mayor is threatening to tell his residents to vote no on the new tax referendum, which could appear on the ballot in November 2025.
But upsetting Matthews voters could be the least of the transportation plan’s problems, Harrison reports. “It’s hard to see how less than a half-cent sales tax — 40% of a one-cent tax — can pay to build and operate all those lines.” Not to mention, Charlotte’s plan hinges on federal transit funding that is far from guaranteed. “In other words, Charlotte is still overpromising,” Harrison concludes.
FULL STORY: Charlotte looks like it's still overpromising on transit

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.