Getting around Mecklenburg County may get a lot easier thanks to a new bill that passed through the NC General Assembly.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. โ A major infrastructure bill just cleared the North Carolina General Assembly, and it could have a major impact on growing communities like Charlotte.
Thursday night, the Senate passed House Bill 948, also known as the PAVE Act.
Now, it is heading to Gov. Josh Steinโs desk, for a signature. If Stein passes the bill, it will go onto the November ballot for Mecklenburg County voters.
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Voters will be able to voice whether they want a one-cent sales tax to benefit transportation across the county.ย
The tax revenue would be split by having 40% going towards road projects for towns and cities across Mecklenburg County. The other 60% would create an independent transit authority.
This funding would expand the light rail and bus system and eventually introduce the long-awaited Red Line.
RELATED: Light rail to Matthews excluded as PAVE Act advances in NC House
Concerns were raised within the general assembly regarding the independent transit authority โ whether the transit authority would be held accountable with what the revenue is spent on, and how it would impact state projects.
โAllow them to be a little bit more of an independent agent and less reliant on state funds for transportation that could be better spent in other places, so I think that might be something to just think about looking forward,โ Republican Senator Warren Daniel of Buncombe County said.
Senators from other counties, like Buncombe and Forsyth, are interested in creating a similar bill. Ultimately, the fate of the bill is up to the voters in Mecklenburg County.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.ย
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