MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. β Members of the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) including Mecklenburg County and the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville have been negotiating with the City of Charlotte for several months on revisions to the Interlocal Agreement which governs the Metropolitan Transit Commission. This came after CATS failed to disclose a train derailment and other operational failures. The revised interlocal agreement would provide for improved transparency, accountability and shared governance as well as serve as a precursor to a proposed new sales tax in Mecklenburg County for transit and transportation projects.
A condition of the MTCβs support of the revised interlocal agreement is a provision that would commit the City of Charlotte to enter into a revenue sharing agreement that a portion of any new sales tax be appropriated for the repair of βorphan roadsβ located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction in the County. These monies would be dedicated to roads inside Mecklenburg County which no state, city or town is maintaining.
The City of Charlotte has refused to include that provision but intends to vote on the agreement despite the MTCβs opposition.
βThe MTC is disappointed that the City of Charlotte is unwilling to make a commitment to orphan roads in the interlocal agreementβ, said County Commission Chair George Dunlap. βThe County Commission hears from frustrated residents on a routine basis about the dangers caused by the dilapidated roads in their neighborhoods and the lack of responsiveness to their requests for support.β
MTC Chair Leigh Altman said, βGrand Palisades Parkway in Steele Creek is just one example of an orphan road that is currently not maintained. It is near the Catawba Nuclear Station and is a designated emergency route in the event of an incident at the facility. Thousands of people including residents, commuters, and CMS students travel over Grand Palisades Parkway every day. We have a responsibility to do all we can to ensure that orphan roads are maintained and safe for all.β
βThe MTC does not support the revised interlocal agreement in its current form and I hope the Charlotte City Council reconsiders its position and makes the necessary amendmentsβ said Rusty Knox, Mayor of Davidson and MTC Vice-Chair.
Any revisions to the interlocal agreement require approval of Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and five of the six participating municipalities. Approval of the revised interlocal is in doubt in its current form.
