Summary
Charlotte is growing fast and its roads, buses, and sidewalks are not keeping up. The proposed 1 % transportation sales tax would fund safer streets, more reliable buses, rail expansion, and better walking and biking connections so people have real options to get to work, school, and health care. Supporters say this investment will reduce crashes, ease congestion by giving choices beyond driving, improve air quality, and help the local economy attract jobs and federal funding. Opponents worry about cost, but the plan spreads benefits across every neighborhood and builds a system that works better for everyone. The core idea is simple. Invest now so daily trips are safer, faster, and more affordable for Charlotte residents.
About the author: Shannon Binns is the founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte and a proud partner in the Yes FOR Meck coalition. For more than a decade he has championed safer streets, reliable transit, and a healthier future for every neighborhood in Mecklenburg County.
Why Charlotte Should Vote Yes on the Transportation Sales Tax
Charlotte is growing by the day. Every sunrise brings new neighbors, more cars, and greater demand on a transportation network that is already stretched. This November 4, voters have a rare chance to change our trajectory with a one cent sales tax dedicated to transportation. Here is why saying Yes is the smart move for our economy, our safety, and our quality of life.
A balanced plan that serves everyone
The proposal directs funding across the whole system so every resident benefits, no matter how they get around: 40% for safer streets, sidewalks, and bike infrastructure; 40% for rail; 20% for buses and microtransit. It is not transit or roads. It is an investment sized to match our growth.
Growth and competitiveness
Companies choose regions with reliable mobility. Faster, more dependable commutes help employers fill shifts and keep freight moving, while modern rail and frequent buses make us competitive with peer cities that have already invested. This is how Charlotte stays a top choice for talent and business, not stuck in traffic.
Safer streets, fewer tragedies
Too many Charlotteans are killed or seriously injured each year while moving around the city. The plan’s largest slice for streets and sidewalks targets the problem directly. It funds safer intersections, new crosswalks, protected bike facilities, and practical traffic calming on high crash corridors. These improvements save lives and strengthen neighborhood business districts.
Cleaner air and better health
Transportation is the region’s largest source of climate pollution. Real choices like rail, reliable buses, and connected walking and biking reduce emissions and lower asthma attacks, emergency visits, and chronic disease over time. Healthy streets are good for families and for employers.
Real options for every neighborhood
Reliable and affordable transportation is an economic ladder. Expanded bus service and on demand microtransit connect more residents to jobs, schools, and health care. New sidewalks keep people out of the roadway. Rail extensions link major job centers. Access should not depend on whether you can afford a car.
Congestion relief that actually works
Adding lanes alone fills roads with more cars. The proven way to unclog the system is to add choices. Fast trains, frequent buses, safe bike routes, and walkable connections let more trips happen without a car. This plan does that at scale.
What it costs and what we gain
The tax would bring the sales tax to 8.25% and cost the average household about $240 per year, roughly the price of a couple of tankfuls of gas. In return, the county unlocks billions for transit, safer roads, and pedestrian networks, along with stronger odds of landing major federal matching dollars. Waiting leaves money and years of progress on the table.
A smart step rooted in local history
Mecklenburg voters have backed dedicated transit funding before, approving a half cent tax in 1998 and rejecting its repeal in 2007. This referendum updates that commitment for the growth we see now and the network we will need next.
The bottom line
Charlotte can keep falling behind or build a safer, healthier, more connected region. The transportation sales tax is a balanced, forward looking investment that meets our growth head on, improves daily life in every neighborhood, and keeps our economy strong. On November 4, vote Yes to move Charlotte forward.