Aug. 27. By Dave Vieser. As expected, the Matthews Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in opposition to the proposed sales tax legislation for Mecklenburg County. The proceeds from the sales tax would help fund the cost of building the Red Line which would stop in Cornelius.

“I am strongly opposed to the current draft legislation, as it knowingly underfunds the approved transit plan for the region,” said Matthews Mayor John Higdon. “If ultimately approved, it will create drastic inequities by only funding the Silver Line East as Bus Rapid Transit while all other lines are built as rail.”

Years ago, transit-oriented developments like Antiquity and Bryton, were built along the Norfolk Southern O Line anticipating commuter rail, but no progress was made until the railroad said it was open to negotiations last year.

John Higdon, Matthews mayor

Quotable

“This approach also ignores significant investment already made in planning for light rail, including the $50 million-plus project to bring the Silver Line East to 30 percent design completion. This is not the ‘community consensus plan’ requested by North Carolina General Assembly leadership and I believe there are better and much more equitable regional transit solutions that would best serve our entire community.”

—John Higdon, mayor of Matthews

In Cornelius

On the flip side, the Cornelius Town Board adopted a resolution in support of the sales tax at their Aug. 19 meeting. It is unclear if the split reaction to the sales tax by local towns will impact any decision by the General Assembly to ultimately place the sales tax on the ballot next year.

Cornelius officials strongly support the measure, calling it “landmark legislation that represents a sea change…generational opportunity for a generational impact.”

Background

The City of Charlotte will buy 22 miles of Norfolk Southern’s O-Line for $74 million and land near the future Charlotte Gateway Station for $17 million—if City Council approves.

The commuter rail line connecting Uptown Charlotte to north Mecklenburg County towns, known as the Red Line, could end in either Davidson or Mooresville.

There are no firm estimates around the final pricetag or a timeline for construction, but it’s said to be years out.