Charlotte developer Bobby Drakeford says he favors the plan to spend $20 billion-plus to improve Mecklenburg County’s transportation system over the next three decades, but his support hinges on local government investing more on complementary efforts to assist low-income residents.
Otherwise, he says, those residents are being asked to vote for a 1-cent sales tax increase that will likely cause many to have to leave their Charlotte neighborhoods because of gentrification.
Drakeford expects new light rail projects will inevitably spark strong real estate development opportunities in neighborhoods along the track.
Plans call for the Red Line commuter line between downtown Charlotte and Iredell County, and the Silver Line light rail service connecting Charlotte’s airport with the center city and extending into east Charlotte. The Red Line involves some of the area’s most affluent neighborhoods, while real estate development activity is already evident along Wilkinson Boulevard, the main gateway to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Drakeford says.
The plan also calls for significant investment in roads and improving regional bus service in areas that won’t have light rail, including more frequent service on popular routes to improve reliability.
While laudable, better bus service won’t fundamentally improve Charlotte’s economically depressed neighborhoods, mainly in the city’s west and north, Drakeford says. “Better bus service is never going to change neighborhoods like light rail,” he says.
The transportation plan creates an opportunity for those neighborhoods to press for specific “anti-displacement” improvements funded by city and county government, which can show tangible results for longtime Charlotte residents, Drakeford says. Those projects include better bus stops to shield riders from rain and sun and possible public incentives to attract development.
Other cities have made anti-displacement programs part of large transit packages. Austin, Texas, voters approved a $7 billion transit plan in 2010 and a separate $300 million for efforts to aid existing residents.
Drakeford’s views of the transit plan were first reported in the Charlotte Business Journal. The veteran developer’s comments are a contrast to the widespread business community and elected official support for the transportation plan. Among the key backers is Mayor Vi Lyles, who is seeking re-election in November.
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is raising $3 million for a campaign promoting a new 1-cent sales tax to pay for the program, with details to be announced soon.
The plan has been criticized by former City Councilman Braxton Winston and community activist Robert Dawkins of the Action NC nonprofit. The progressive Redress Movement nonprofit said today it opposes the plan. “It will primarily fund roads and light rail, leaving lower-income bus riders with fewer improvements. And the rail investments the General Assembly prioritized will likely reinforce segregation patterns,” the group said.
It is also receiving lukewarm responses from some unexpected places. Democratic City Councilors Victoria Watlington, Renee Johnson and Tiawanna Brown remain undecided, while Mayor Vi Lyles and eight other council members are supportive, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Lyles and other supporters, including Charlotte’s top business leaders, say the plan is the best alternative to make progress given the city’s historically tense relationship with the Republican-dominated legislature. Early versions committed 80% of revenue for rail projects. But that was cut to 40% after pushback from state lawmakers, who otherwise may not have allowed Mecklenburg to hold a vote. The balance of the money is now targeted for road improvements and better bus service.
Drakeford says legislators did Charlotte a favor by scaling back the spending on light rail and putting more emphasis on transportation improvements to help residents of more modest means.
Mecklenburg commissioners are expected to hold a public hearing and vote Wednesday to put the 1-cent tax proposal on the November ballot.
David Mildenberg is editor of Business North Carolina. Reach him at dmildenberg@businessnc.com.