CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The plan is to show people what public transportation could look like in the Queen City over the next 30 years.
The last in a series of public meetings will wrap up tonight in Charlotte’s west corridor as CATS leaders discuss the long-term transit system plan.
CATS leaders have been working on these plans for a while now, and this is the second phase in a four-phase process. They want to inform the public about the long-term plan and get recommendations.
The meetings have discussed everything from building the newly proposed red line to the financing for many of the projects in Charlotte and the surrounding areas in Mecklenburg county.
There are four different scenarios for public transportation moving forward, according to CATS.
The first scenario has more light rail mileage, with the building of the Red line and the extension of the Blue and Gold lines.
The fourth scenario still has the building of the Red Line, but there would be a heavier focus on bus rapid transit in some areas.
Of course, this all comes down to funding, and the price tag for the plan is an estimated $17.5 billion over 30 years. If the one-cent sales tax referendum is voted on and passes, it would raise $19.4 billion over that same time.
Currently, Senate Bill 145, which would allow Mecklenburg County to place a referendum on the ballot for a one-cent sales tax increase, has been introduced but not moved much further.
The meeting in the west corridor will wrap up five public meetings talking about the different transportation plan scenarios.
Later this spring, CATS leaders will release the recommendations made during these public input sessions. If you can’t make the meeting but would still like to voice your recommendations, you can do so on the CATS website.
