CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A visit last week from state lawmakers seems to indicate city leaders aren't making much progress on getting Raleigh's support for Charlotte's $13 billion transit plan.
"It certainly feels like we are in gridlock right now,' Dimple Ajmera, a Charlotte City Councilwoman said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
During a meeting last week with Charlotte business leaders, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore reemphasized their preference for a 'roads-first' mobility plan, a year after they made a similar pledge.
"The top priority has to be roads, it has to be roads. That's where the traffic issues have to be dealt with," Moore said. "A lot of these other things are great to be able to do, but it has to, first and foremost, be roads."
Charlotte leaders want a small sales tax increase to pay for the city's transportation plan.
In addition to road expansion, Charlotte City Council's plan includes 110 miles of rail lines, 140 miles of bus lanes, 115 miles of a greenway system and 75 miles of a bicycle network.
But the General Assembly would have to sign off on the sales tax and state lawmakers say this will only happen if the plan focuses on roads.
"We have to look at other infrastructure investments like light rail, public transportation, public transit, bus and sidewalks and greenway," Ajmera said.
As Charlotte rapidly grows, Ajmera said the city is running out of space to expand and prioritize local roads. Going forward, she said, the city will prioritize building a coalition with regional stakeholders, hoping that can put pressure on state lawmakers.
"By no means we can do this alone. It has to be a regional plan in order to get the buy-in from our state delegation," Ajmera said.
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Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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