Charlotte’s transit snub of Matthews faces an uphill battle, legislator says | Opinion

An agreement announced last week between Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and local municipalities could finally implement a long-awaited transit plan, but making it a reality could be as difficult as ever.

One town is notably missing from the agreement: Matthews. The proposal would enable a referendum for a countywide 1-cent sales tax increase in November 2025, which would generate revenue for roads, buses and light rail projects. But it likely would not fund the eastern portion of the Silver Line, which would provide light rail access to Matthews, instead replacing it with bus rapid transit.

The GOP-controlled legislature has historically been reluctant to raise taxes, even if it’s done through a referendum and supported by voters. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Tim Moore, have thrown cold water on Charlotte’s transit operations, insisting that roads should be more of a priority than other projects. This latest proposal, which would cap light rail spending at around 40%, is meant to assuage some of those concerns.

But N.C. Rep. Laura Budd, whose district encompasses Matthews, thinks the plan will still be a hard sell in Raleigh. She believes that the proposal would have better chances if it were a true regional plan. Not only does the agreement not include Matthews, it also doesn’t include surrounding counties, such as Iredell and Gaston, that would be impacted by the transit plan even if they aren’t paying the tax. Budd pointed out that Charlotte’s plans for the Red Line, which would be funded by the plan, involve acquiring tracks and rights of way in Iredell County, something that surprised and concerned county leaders.

But the biggest obstacle might be the fact that not even all the towns in Mecklenburg County are on board, and their voters are the ones who will be asked to approve a sales tax increase in order to fund the plan. Matthews commissioners voted unanimously Monday to oppose the plan, calling it “reprehensible.”

“We have been told since before I even moved here in 2002 that the Silver Line was being planned,” Budd said. “It feels like we’re getting nothing. We’re getting told we’re getting this consolation prize.”

It’s the same obstacle that the plan has always faced, but with different opponents. For years, one of the biggest obstacles to Charlotte’s transit aspirations was its struggles to bring the Red Line to fruition. The Red Line, a commuter train that would run from uptown Charlotte to the northern parts of the county, was conceived decades ago, but has been stalled ever since. That made those in northern Mecklenburg county hesitant to support the plan, let alone approve a sales tax increase.

But now that the city has reached a non-binding agreement with Norfolk Southern that could put plans for the Red Line back on track, those towns are on board. But it comes at the expense of the Silver Line, leaving a different constituent group unhappy.

Budd said that “unhappy” isn’t enough to describe the way people in her district are feeling. “Outraged” would be a better word, she said. While Matthews would still be connected to Charlotte through bus rapid transit, it’s not a good substitute for light rail, and it’s not the plan that residents have long been promised.

“Matthews, it’s the red-headed stepchild of the plan,” Budd said. “What did we do in Matthews that results in this plan where we’re left out of the equation entirely?”

In Budd’s view, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County only have one chance to get this plan right. In addition to leaving important stakeholders unhappy, Budd believes that the decision to cap light rail spending at 40% is short-sighted and will limit the city’s ability to build a comprehensive transit system in the long term.

“There will be no coming back for a second bite at the apple,” Budd said. “We’re not going to be able to go, as elected officials, back to our voters and ask them to approve another sales tax increase. That conversation will not happen with voters for at least a decade, if not two, if at all.”