transit

Mecklenburg County commissioners vote on whether to increase the county-wide sales tax by 1 cent to fund the transit plan. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs the mini budget, albeit reluctantly. Nancy Mace throws her hat in the ring for South Carolina governor. Plus, the Panthers open preseason play.

Mecklenburg commissioners voted 8-to-1 to place the tax on the ballot. The proposed tax increase would raise billions of dollars to build more roads, rail transit and more bus service.

Mecklenburg County commissioners are starting the process to place a referendum on a transit and transportation sales tax increase on the ballot this November. They’ve scheduled a special meeting for July 30 to finalize the referendum language and set an Aug. 6 hearing for residents to give their feedback.

Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones had said he planned to use roughly $100 million of money dedicated for roads from a new sales tax increase to relieve pressure on the city's general fund.

A bill that would allow Mecklenburg County voters to decide on a sales tax increase has passed the North Carolina House. The additional one-percentage point tax would go to fund billions of dollars in road and transit improvements, including the Red Line commuter train to north Mecklenburg.

With the passage of Mecklenburg's transit bill appearing likely, Mecklenburg County commissioners could vote in early September to place a referendum on a 1-cent sales tax increase on the ballot for November.

Republican Tricia Cotham's bill easily passed the state House on second reading Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Transit Commission on Wednesday rejected a request by the town of Matthews to study in the impact of spending 45% of sales tax revenue on trains.

Lease negotiations underway with American Airlines could shape the airport’s next decade of construction: more gates, a second entrance, additional international flights?

Millions in road money helps shore up support for expanded rail and bus lines; towns could repave and extend streets, build sidewalks, install streetlights — and boost spending on "parks, public safety, you name it."