Council Approves Sales Tax Ballot Measure And $92 Million Purchase For Red Line Project

CHARLOTTE, NC – Transit upgrades are coming to Charlotte. Tuesday night City Council voted to approve moving forward a one cent sales tax referendum and completing a $92 million purchase to finish the Red Line.

Dozens showed up to City Council’s Tuesday meeting. Just about all wanted Council to vote yes on a one cent sales tax ballot measure and a $96 million purchase of 22 miles railroads and 1.6 acres of land from Norfolk Southern. Both items were approved by Council members after two votes of 10 to one in favor of these measures.

The only Council member to vote no on each of these issues was District 6 Representative Tariq Bokhari. All Council members acknowledged what they called a tough decision, but Bokhari was the only one who disagreed with moving forward.

Bokhari said before voting that he sees the thought of more taxes as a downfall and is worried the plan hasn’t been fully thought out.

“The lack of defined roads of the future plan and that planning actually exists at this point,” Bokhari said.

Many others were in support of putting a sales tax referendum on the ballot by November 2025, and completing a deal with Norfolk Southern to help complete the Red Line project that aims to connect Uptown to Lake Norman.

More than 20 Charlotte residents showed up to the meeting to speak in favor of each item on the agenda. Three Cats bus drivers voted their support as well.

Donald Bowman believes the money from the potential sales tax could make work safer for Cats drivers.

“…Would also enable much need operator security improvements,” Bowman said while talking about the benefits and one cent sales tax could bring to the City’s transit. Another Cats operator pointed out that the Cats fleet is aging everyday, and money will be needed to maintain every bus and train.

Both the sales tax and $92 million Norfolk Southern deal have been approved. Both by a 10 to 1 vote from City Council. State legislators will now have to authorize adding the sales tax referendum to ballots for voters to make a decision on. The deal with Norfolk Southern can move forward but has to be completed by September 9th.

Just after Council finished voting, Mayor Vi Lyles posted a statement to X. In the statement she calls the decision a monumental step after 26 years of effort to secure the Red Line. She writes this is more than a transportation milestone, and it will help create opportunities and economic growth while giving everyone access to public transit.