The transportation tax referendum: What to know – Substack

Report on the Mecklenburg County Transportation Referendum

Executive Summary

Mecklenburg County voters are set to decide on a multi-billion dollar transportation plan funded by a one-percent sales tax increase. The proposal aims to create a comprehensive, multi-modal transportation network encompassing rail, bus, and roadway systems. This initiative is critically aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by promoting accessible, efficient, and environmentally sustainable mobility options for a growing urban population.

Proposed Plan Components and SDG Alignment

Public Transportation Systems

A significant portion of the plan focuses on expanding public transit to provide reliable and clean alternatives to private vehicles, directly supporting SDG 11.2 (provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all).

• Rail Expansion: The plan prioritizes significant investment in rail infrastructure, a key component of building resilient and sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9).
  1. Build the Red Line commuter rail to northern Mecklenburg.
  2. Construct the Silver Line light rail, connecting the airport to uptown and Bojangles Coliseum.
  3. Extend the Blue Line light rail to Pineville.
  4. Extend the Gold Line streetcar in both directions.
• Bus Service Enhancement: Improvements to the bus network are designed to enhance accessibility and equity (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities) and improve the quality of urban life.
  1. Increase service frequency on 15 key routes to every 15 minutes.
  2. Install shelters, benches, and lighting at 2,000 bus stops to improve safety and comfort.
  3. Expand on-demand “microtransit” services to 18 new zones, improving coverage in less dense areas.

Roadway and Active Transportation Systems

The plan allocates 40% of revenue to roadway systems, with a strategic focus on multi-modal infrastructure that promotes public health and environmental sustainability.

• Multi-Modal Focus: Funding will be directed towards projects that encourage active transportation, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and reducing the carbon footprint of the transport sector (SDG 13). This includes the construction and expansion of:
  • Sidewalks
  • Bike paths
  • Shared-use paths
• Safety and Efficiency: By creating safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists and providing alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles, the plan aims to build a more sustainable and resilient urban community (SDG 11).

Financial and Governance Framework

Funding Mechanism

The plan’s financial viability relies on a combination of local tax revenue and external grants.

• Sales Tax Increase: The core funding mechanism is a proposed increase of the local sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25%. This is projected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years.
• Economic Impact: While proponents note that visitors would contribute approximately 30% of the tax revenue, the regressive nature of a sales tax raises concerns regarding its impact on low-income households, a consideration under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Federal Funding: The plan assumes an additional $5.9 billion in federal grants. Securing this funding is critical, particularly for large-scale rail projects, and represents a significant implementation risk.

Governance

A new 27-member transit authority, operating independently of existing government bodies, would be established to oversee the allocation and management of funds, ensuring dedicated governance for these critical infrastructure projects (SDG 9).

Analysis of Arguments and Key Considerations

Arguments in Support of the Plan

Supporters frame the referendum as a forward-looking investment essential for sustainable urban development. Key arguments include:

• Sustainable Growth (SDG 11): The plan provides the necessary infrastructure to manage population growth sustainably, preventing gridlock and reducing urban sprawl.
• Climate Action (SDG 13): By expanding public and active transport options, the plan offers a direct strategy to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic Opportunity (SDG 8): Enhanced mobility connects residents to employment centers and stimulates economic activity through major infrastructure investment.

Arguments in Opposition to the Plan

Opponents raise concerns about equity, transparency, and financial burden. Key arguments include:

• Equity Concerns (SDG 10): The reliance on a regressive sales tax is seen as disproportionately affecting low- and moderate-income residents. There are also fears that rail development could accelerate gentrification without adequate mitigation plans.
• Lack of Transparency: Critics argue the plan was developed with insufficient community input and lacks specific guarantees on project delivery and timelines.
• Financial Risk: The total cost of $25 billion is considered a significant financial commitment with potential for cost overruns and uncertain returns on investment, particularly regarding ridership projections.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Transportation Referendum Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article mentions that the transportation plan aims to provide “safer” ways for residents to get around. The “Yes For Meck campaign says the projects will make the roads safer.” This directly connects to improving public health by reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities. The emphasis on building sidewalks and bike paths also promotes physical activity.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • This goal is central to the article. The entire piece discusses a “multi-billion dollar transportation plan” focused on developing quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure. The plan includes significant investments in expanding rail (Red Line, Silver Line), modernizing bus services, and improving roads, sidewalks, and bike paths, which constitutes a “transformational investment to improve transportation.”
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article highlights the social equity dimension of the plan. It notes that opponents are concerned about the “regressive sales tax,” which would “bear the biggest burden” on “low- and moderate-income residents.” Conversely, the plan aims to improve bus services, which are predominantly used by low-income individuals, ensuring they can travel “with dignity” through better amenities. The expansion of microtransit also aims to serve less dense areas, potentially improving access for underserved communities.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • This is a primary focus of the article. The plan is presented as a way to create a more sustainable and livable city as its population grows. It aims to provide “safer, cleaner and more efficient ways to get around” by expanding public transportation systems (rail, bus, microtransit) and infrastructure for active mobility (sidewalks, bike paths). This directly addresses the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • While not the main theme, climate action is an underlying benefit of the proposed plan. By providing “cleaner” transportation options and aiming to “reduce the number of car trips residents take,” the plan contributes to mitigating climate change. Shifting from private vehicle use to public transit, cycling, and walking is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the urban transport sector.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.6: Halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
   • The article states that a key argument from supporters is that the projects funded by the tax “will make the roads safer.” This aligns directly with the objective of improving road safety and reducing traffic-related harm.
2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
   • The plan to “Expand rail,” “Expand bus service,” and “Add roads and related projects” is a direct effort to develop transportation infrastructure. The debate over the regressive nature of the sales tax versus the goal of making the region “more livable for everyone” reflects the challenge of ensuring equitable access.
3. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport.
   • This target is explicitly addressed. The plan details the expansion of multiple forms of public transport (commuter rail, light rail, streetcar, buses, and microtransit). It also focuses on improving the quality of service by increasing bus frequencies and adding shelters and benches to 2,000 bus stops, enhancing accessibility and dignity for riders.
4. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.
   • The article mentions that the plan will give residents “cleaner” ways to get around. By encouraging a shift away from single-occupancy vehicles to public transit and active transport, the plan aims to reduce air pollution and the overall environmental footprint of the city’s transportation system.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Infrastructure Development Indicators:
   • Number of improved bus stops: The plan explicitly aims to build “shelters and benches at 2,000 bus stops.”
   • Bus service frequency: The plan aims for buses to “arrive every 15 minutes” on the 15 busiest routes and “at least every 30 minutes” on all other routes.
   • Microtransit expansion: The plan is to expand “microtransit to at least 18 new zones.”
   • Rail network expansion: Specific projects are named, such as the Red Line, Silver Line, and extensions of the Blue and Gold Lines.
   • Financial Investment: The total funding is estimated at “$19.4 billion” from the sales tax and “$5.9 billion in federal grants.”
2. Transportation Usage and Efficiency Indicators:
   • Public transit ridership: The article provides baseline data for bus ridership (“carrying 13 people per hour”) and microtransit (“more than 200 passenger trips on the average weekday”), which can be used to measure future increases.
   • Modal shift: An implied indicator is the “reduce the number of car trips residents take,” which the city aims to achieve. Progress could be measured through traffic counts and travel surveys.
3. Safety and Environmental Indicators:
   • Road safety: An implied indicator is the reduction of traffic accidents and fatalities, stemming from the goal to make roads “safer.”
   • Environmental impact: The goal of providing “cleaner” transport implies that a key indicator would be the reduction of transportation-related emissions.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: charlotteledger.substack.com