Matthews leaders vote against regional transit plan

Matthews town leaders are crying foul on a countywide plan to fund roads, rails and infrastructure across the area. The majority of leaders across Mecklenburg County are supporting a one cent sales tax to create a fund for the 2030 Transit Plan.

Leaders in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have been working on a mass transit plan for decades, but Matthews leaders are concerned that the latest iteration of the plan does not include a rail line for Matthews.

The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan would focus on improving roads and expanding light rails. It would also fully fund a Red Line connecting Uptown to Lake Norman.

“I think we need more public transportation,” Myles Shollenberger, Charlotte resident said. “I try to avoid driving myself and prefer to take the train because it’s easier faster and safer.”

City leaders announced a transit plan that would call for a penny sales tax has been drafted. The original transit plan called for a Silver Line East that would run from Belmont to the Charlotte Airport to Matthews. After decades of planning for a rail line, the newest transit plan calls for Rapid Bus Transit from Charlotte to Matthews as a more affordable option. Matthews Commissioner Ken McCool says the new transit plan isn’t fair for East Charlotte and Matthews.

“It was not and is not an equitable transit plan for the entire county or region,” Commissioner McCool said.

In a meeting Monday, Matthews commissioners voted unanimously in favor of a resolution opposing the transit sales tax plan. Commissioners would like county and city leaders to go back to the drawing board to come up with a plan that would also fund the Silver Line.

“Hey, we’re supporters of transit but make sure Matthews gets a train that we’ve planned for,” Commissioner McCool said. “That’s what our community expects, and what we’ve told our constituents so, let’s make sure we can all get what we want.”

The transit plan would eventually go to the NC General Assembly which would have the power to decide if voters should be allowed to vote on whether they want to pay the one cent tax for transit in 2025.

“Just give us the rail trail that’s it that’s all we need,” Myles Shollenberger, Charlotte resident said.

Charlotte’s Transportation, Planning and Development committee will discuss the transit plan in their meeting tomorrow.