transit

The Charlotte City Council on Monday voted to defer voting on a plan on how to pick its 12 appointments to a new 27-member transit authority board.

Supporters call the referendum a once-in-a-generation chance to expand rail and roads — though money doesn’t always stretch as far as envisioned.

If voters approve a higher sales tax in November, 20% of the money would go toward buses. The goals are to improve frequency, stops, safety — and expand microtransit after years of declining ridership.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on Tuesday easily won the Democratic primary, getting 71% of the vote against four opponents. That’s a rout. But the results also showed some softening of support compared to her three previous primaries, when she got 85%, 84% and 87%.

The transit plan on November’s ballot would aid biking, cyclists say — but safety can’t be built overnight.

A fatal stabbing has officials concerned not only about crime but also its potential impact this incident might have on the transit vote in November. The CMS school year is underway, North Carolina's legislature is back in Raleigh, but won’t vote on a budget, and the Panthers have traded a star.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance this week kicked off a campaign to convince Mecklenburg County voters to increase the sales tax by 1 cent per dollar to pay for a multi-billion-dollar transportation plan.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance plans to spend between $3 million and $3.5 million on campaign.

Activist Rev. William Barber comes out against the transit plan, a District 3 City Council candidate drops out of the race, concerns over immigration enforcement highlight the last CMS board meeting before the start of school, and Charlotte Pride returns for its 25th year, though with diminished corporate support.

Mecklenburg County voters will decide in November whether to increase the sales tax to 8.25% to pay for a multibillion-dollar roads and transit plan.