CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Charlotte City Council is considering allocating $4.3 million to the newly formed Metropolitan Public Transit Authority, marking the first lump funding for the organization tasked with overseeing transit across Mecklenburg County.
The money would come from existing sales tax revenue, separate from the recently approved tax increase. November’s vote means an increase in Mecklenburg County sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25%, which is expected to generate $19.4 billion over the next three decades for transit projects.
Council member Malcolm Graham said at a Thursday morning press conference that the funding is critical to help the MPTA begin operations immediately, particularly on safety initiatives.
“The car looks good, the car smells good, but the car doesn’t have any gas,” Graham said. “So what we’re going to do is help them get started by putting some gas in their car, so that they can do some of the foundation building necessary for them to get off the ground.”
The MPTA’s primary responsibility is determining how transit funding will be distributed throughout Mecklenburg County. The most pressing priority is addressing safety on the light rail system. This includes whether to establish a dedicated transit police force.
Graham acknowledged the challenges of building such a force while transitioning that authority from the city to the MPTA.
“I think they will have the same issue that we’re having with CMPD, the sheriff is having, which is identifying talent correctly to do it,” he said. “It’s still our system until it isn’t, right? And so heavy concentration of CMPD officers working overtime, heavy concentration of private security working alongside them. I think that needs to continue until the MPTA has a thoughtful conversation about how they move forward.”
The safety concerns come as state Republicans have summoned Mayor Vi Lyles and County Sheriff Garry McFadden to Raleigh later this month. A House oversight committee will investigate the city’s response to the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the light rail.
Graham said local officials also have questions for state lawmakers about resources.
“We’re saying that we need to be a lot more assertive in terms of enforcing laws, that we need a judicial system that can handle what we’re trying to do,” Graham said. “If we don’t have the resources from the state, then it makes it complicated.”
The council is scheduled to vote on the funding on Monday. Graham said he expects it to pass.
The House Oversight committee at the General Assembly is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
