CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly four years after the Charlotte MOVES Task Force first recommended a multi-billion dollar transit plan to city council, casual observers might wonder if any progress has been made.
City and state leaders have occasionally made news by weighing in on the plan but, so far, the plan's promise of transit, trail and road expansion has made little public progress.
"It's not that nothing has happened. I think we underestimated all the work that was going to be needed," Councilman Ed Driggs, who chairs the city's transportation, planning and development, said on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint.
The transit plan is dependent a one-cent sales tax increase which would go before voters in a referendum, but only after the blessing of state lawmakers in Raleigh, who've expressed skepticism.
Driggs said he's currently trying to find "common ground" between the Democratic-controlled city council and Republican-controlled General Assembly.
"I've had meetings with leaders in Raleigh and learned a bit more about what their perception is, their expectations are. And, essentially, we've been working to meet those expectations before going back and engaging with them again," Driggs said.
To get the endorsement of state lawmakers, support from regional stakeholders outside Mecklenburg County is necessary.
"We do need a regional approach to transportation. And when I say regional, that doesn't mean the City of Charlotte region. It includes Union County, Iredell, Cabarrus and Lincoln and those other surrounding areas," Vickie Sawyer, Republican state senator representing northern Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties, said.
When asked if she's seen progress on the transit plan, Sawyer quickly responded "no."
Sawyer, Republican leadership in Raleigh and Republican City Councilman Tariq Bokhari have suggested the transit plan would need to prioritize roads over rail projects.
Driggs wouldn't go so far to say the plan will need to be "roads-first" but admitted the city's initial plan will need to adapt to gain support in Raleigh.
"I think what we need to do is demonstrate that we heard the input we got from them, go back and find some common ground and work from there," Driggs said.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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