Transportation Opportunities
To alleviate traffic congestion and spark economic development, we must grow our transit infrastructure to provide more diverse transportation options.
Our economy depends on a wide range of transportation options. Whether it is for a Charlottean riding the bus to work, a parent driving a child to school, a tourist taking Lynx to a game or a company shipping goods over our roads, we need efficient and reliable transit.
Anyone who rides the light rail has seen firsthand the residential and business growth it has sparked. Many more local communities will flourish this way when the extension is completed in 2017. In addition to expanding our urban population to areas where infrastructure like roads, water and sewage lines already exist, this smart urban growth will help prevent the blight and disorganized urban sprawl that has plagued other metropolitan areas.
As the fastest growing urban area in the country (according to the 2010 census), our transportation needs will only continue to expand. The population of Mecklenburg County grew by 225,000 citizens between 2000 and 2010 – and we’re projected to add another 360,000 residents by 2022.
To manage this explosive growth effectively, we must provide predictable, efficient transit to all parts of our city. Doing so will be pivotal for our continued ability to attract businesses and opportunities to the greater Charlotte region.
Accessible mass transit provides quality of life advantages for Charlotte’s working population. By offering more expedient alternatives to driving, we empower the working class to spend more time with their families. Additionally, people who choose to live in emerging communities along mass transit routes give themselves the option to shop, find entertainment, work, and thrive without relying on a car.
If we fail to plan ahead of our growth, our transportation system will not keep pace with our population and congestion will choke our economy. Having a wide range of efficient, sustainable transportation options is good for our environment and even better for our economy.