How 40% of the Proposed Sales Tax Would Make Charlotte’s Streets Safer and More Connected
Mecklenburg County has a chance to make a generational investment in safer, better-connected streets. The proposed 1% transportation sales tax would fund improvements across all modes of travel, helping our community build the kind of city where everyone can move safely and efficiently.
Under this proposal, 40% of all revenue would be dedicated to road improvements, and that is exactly where we can strengthen safety, connectivity, and equity for all.
Building a Charlotte for People, Not Just Cars
The City of Charlotte’s Strategic Mobility Plan, adopted in 2022, set an ambitious goal: by 2040, half of all trips should be made by means other than driving alone. That means walking, biking, taking transit, and carpooling need to be not just possible, but easy and safe choices for everyone.
Today, too many streets tell a different story. Many neighborhoods still lack sidewalks, safe crossings, and bike lanes. Bus stops often have no shelter or lighting. And far too many serious or fatal crashes occur on Charlotte’s streets.
The way our streets are designed has a direct impact on safety. Preventing speeding, clear pedestrian crossings, and protected bike lanes all help prevent injuries and deaths. With 40% of the transportation referendum funding going toward road improvements, Charlotte can finally invest in Complete Streets — roads designed for everyone, no matter how they travel.
East Blvd before and after being rebuilt to increase safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
What “40% for Roads” Really Means
That 40% share is not about adding more lanes for cars. It is about re-inventing our road to function better for everyone — including people walking, biking, and using public transit. Here is how those investments would make a difference:
Safer sidewalks and crossings
Many neighborhoods have missing or broken sidewalks, forcing people to walk dangerously close to traffic. Dedicated funding can close these gaps by adding new sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and pedestrian lighting to make every trip safer and more comfortable.
Connected bike infrastructure
Protected bike lanes give people safe options to get to work, school, and everyday destinations without needing a car. Investing in bike corridors would link neighborhoods to transit hubs and parks, reducing car trips and traffic congestion.
Safer intersections
Improving intersections with better lighting, turn lanes, and traffic signal timing saves lives. Traffic-calming projects, such as narrower lanes or raised crosswalks, reduce speeding and make streets more welcoming for people walking, biking, and accessing public transit.
Streets that work for transit
Even though a separate portion of the referendum supports transit, road improvements make bus service faster and more reliable. Dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, and safer crossings to bus stops all come from the “road” portion of the plan.
Community-driven projects
Because local governments will receive their share of road funds, neighborhoods will be able to identify and prioritize smaller but important projects like safer routes to schools, parks, and grocery stores.
A Smarter Way to Invest
Charlotte’s Blueprint for Mobility Investment lays out how these funds would be used over the next 30 years. Instead of tackling projects one by one, the city will focus on Strategic Investment Areas (SIAs). Within each SIA, multiple projects can be completed at once—such as adding sidewalks, bike lanes, and upgraded bus stops during the same construction period.
This approach saves money, reduces disruption, and speeds up results. It ensures that the 40% road investment does not just repair pavement, but builds safer, multimodal corridors that connect people to opportunities.
This approach has already been proven! The City of Charlotte successfully tested this approach in the Arrowwood SIA and the Far East – Harrisburg Rd SIA.
Here is what that looks like, with the Arrowood SIA as an example:
Arrowood Strategic Investment Area
The Numbers Behind the Vision
The proposed 1% sales tax is projected to raise more than $19 billion over the next 30 years. About $5.7 billion of that would go toward local road improvements that support Complete Streets and safety.
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are among the fastest-growing areas in the United States. Every year of delay makes projects more expensive and allows safety risks to continue. This funding would allow our region to act now, before congestion worsens and costs rise even higher.
The plan also keeps funding decisions local. Mecklenburg communities would have a dedicated and flexible source of revenue to address their own mobility needs.
Why This Is Not “Just a Roads Tax”
It’s important to understand that this plan is balanced: 40% for roads, 20% for buses, and 40% for rail. The 40% portion for roads supports the other two by making it easier and safer to walk or bike to transit and by improving traffic flow on streets where buses operate.
These projects are part of a single vision: creating a network of Complete Streets that connects people safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
Why Voting Yes Matters
Voting YES for the transportation sales tax means voting for:
- Safer streets for people walking, biking, and driving.
- Better transit access through improved sidewalks, crossings, and bus corridors.
- Local control over how our infrastructure dollars are spent.
- Smarter investments that combine projects for efficiency and cost savings.
- A healthier, more equitable city where everyone has safe, affordable ways to get around.
Charlotte has spent years planning for a more connected future. The Strategic Mobility Plan and the Mobility Blueprint give us the roadmap. The proposed sales tax provides the resources to finally make it happen.
A YES vote gives every county resident the freedom to choose how they travel—safely, sustainably, and affordably.
Let’s make our streets safer, our communities more connected, and our city more livable for generations to come.
Vote YES for Meck and help Charlotte move forward together.
Learn more about the referendum at YesForMeck.com and view the projects that would be funded at MeckConnect.com.