Regional Planning

The conversation about Charlotte’s growth must begin with how we can facilitate it in a more balanced, responsible manner. Our issues don’t begin or end at the city limits; rather, we share traffic congestion, air- and water-quality issues with our surrounding regions. That’s why we must think creatively as we complete the buildout of our mass transit system, and work to maintain and expand our roads. Both of these initiatives are critical investments in our efforts to protect our environment.

In less than a year, we expect to secure FTA funding to expand our highly successful Lynx Blue Line to the University area. CATS leadership continues to devise innovative ways to keep this project on track in the face of declining revenue and other recession-related challenges. And soon, they must also advance the conversation about expanding the Commuter Red Line north into Mooresville.

In 2009 when I joined the City Council,Charlotte’s relationships with the northern towns of Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson were strained at best. So I leveraged my past experiences as Chair of the Planning Commission and the Planning Coordinating Committee to help mend those relationships and build trust between Charlotte and its northern neighbors.

A few months ago, when the N.C. Legislature considered blocking vital transit funds earmarked forCharlotte, we worked with our northern partners to secure the funding. Additionally, I’ve participated in talks about moving the Red Line project forward by initiating a public-private partnership (PPP) between the N.C. Department of Transportation, CATS, and a private rail company.

On the east side of the city, there are unique transit issues that require different creative solutions and funding. Our eastern residents have watched the prosperity and gains of the ‘70s and ‘80s diminish during the recession. To initiate a turnaround, we must develop adequate mass transit for Independence Boulevard/Expressway. The Urban Land Institute has proposed several intriguing solutions, like converting Independence into a full expressway, and developing HOV/HOT lanes for bus use. They’ve also suggested adding a streetcar line onMonroe Roadto compliment the one planned forCentral Avenue. As Chair of the Council’s Transportation and Planning Committee, and the Council’s representative on the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO), I’ve been involved in all discussions about these initiatives.

One of our biggest transit-related challenges involves the development of a streetcar line that would run west to Beatties Ford Road and east to Central Avenue. Though the city secured $25 million to begin work on this project, some City Council members have been reluctant to proceed. So I’ve assumed an active leadership role to lobby support for this effort. Given our current national funding environment, I feel we must take advantage of this opportunity while we have it.

Over the next 20 to 25 years, we’ll have to address more than $3 billion in road and transportation needs.That’s why we’ve developed a Transportation Action Plan (TAP) to deal with this growing concern. When people are stuck in traffic, they’re not at work being productive or home with their families. Thus, this issue impacts our overall quality of life.