How could $5.7 billion make Charlotte’s streets work for everyone?

Sustain Charlotte is excited about the potential of the proposed mobility plan and associated sales tax discussed at the 2025 Charlotte City Council retreat. This plan represents a crucial step towards building a more equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically vibrant Charlotte for all. Investing in our transportation infrastructure isn’t just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about shaping the future of our city.

At last year’s retreat, Council discussed the right approach for choosing how mobility projects would be funded and completed. This year, Ed McKinney (Charlotte Dept of Transportation) shared that the City is using a data-driven approach to focus on Strategic Investment Areas to create a sort of heat map of areas facing the greatest barriers to safety, access, connection to public transit, and congestion. With a place-based strategy, projects could be bundled together for greater efficiency (of both time and construction cost) and impact.

The examples of Harrisburg Rd. and Arrowood Rd. were shared as examples of how CDOT tested this data-driven approach in two extreme situations. Arrowood Rd. has high job density and is one of the bus priority corridors in the Better Bus vision for future investment. Conversely, Harrisburg Rd. has low job density and is ideal for microtransit in the future.  

To program some of the $55M from City bonds, CDOT worked with a multidisciplinary team of planners and engineers to maximize the projected benefits of various new mobility investments in each of these corridors. The team is committed to getting all of these projects under construction within the next three years. McKinney and City Manager Marcus Jones shared these corridors as an example of how CDOT has demonstrated the feasibility and value of the data-driven Strategic Investment Areas approach, which can be scaled up as new funding becomes available. As planning and construction move forward, a real-time dashboard will show project status for public transparency and accountability.

Equity at the forefront

For too long, Charlotte’s growth has outpaced its transportation infrastructure, leading to increased congestion, longer commutes, and limited accessibility for many residents. This has disproportionately impacted lower-income communities and communities of color, who often lack access to reliable transportation options and are forced to spend a larger portion of their income on car ownership and maintenance. The proposed mobility plan offers a path forward, prioritizing investments that will benefit all Charlotteans.

The Council retreat conversation primarily focused on the potential to fund road projects, and they also previously received a presentation from CATS about bus and rail projects that could be funded with a new sales tax. However, the mobility funding for roads and public transit will be carefully coordinated to maximize benefits to people who live and work in Mecklenburg County. 

By expanding public transit through the Better Bus and High Capacity Transit (ie, rail and/or Bus Rapid Transit) plans, Charlotte’s approach to investing in mobility aims to connect residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services. Improved transit options empower residents to access opportunities they might otherwise miss, breaking down barriers and supporting greater economic mobility.

The plan also emphasizes investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Creating safer and more accessible sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks not only promotes healthier lifestyles but also provides affordable transportation options for those who cannot afford or do not have access to a car. 

The value of a Mobility Tax

A one-cent sales tax for mobility in Mecklenburg County would generate an estimated $5.7 Billion over 30 years for building safer roads that serve all people — not just those in cars. The draft legislation for the tax would support Charlotte’s adopted Strategic Mobility Plan goals of building more sidewalks, safe intersections, crosswalks, and other elements of Complete Streets. 

The state legislature has not yet voted to give Mecklenburg County Commissioners the authority to choose whether or not voters will be allowed to decide on the sales tax, but we are hopeful that this will happen soon. As written, the draft legislation currently would require 40% of tax revenues to be spent on roads (this is broadly defined and would support Charlotte’s adopted mobility goals to reduce dependence on driving alone), up to 40% on rail projects, and 20% on the bus system. 

A major opportunity

The proposed sales tax will be a critical funding mechanism for this ambitious plan. This is an opportunity for us to collectively build a better Charlotte-Mecklenburg area where everyone has access to safe and reliable transportation, where our air is cleaner, and where our economy thrives. 

As shown in the slide of Project Groups by City Council district below, a huge number of projects would be funded including Complete Streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, safer intersections, street lighting, and other investments to ensure that our streets work for every Charlottean. 

Sustain Charlotte believes that the process of updating CATS’ Transit System Plan,  and the proposed sales tax represent a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and equitable Charlotte. We encourage residents to learn more about the plans and we will continue to share information with you.

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