Today the governor's signature turned legislation into state law: Triangle residents now have new options to pay for ambitious bus and rail transit improvements, with $86 million a year from sources including a half-cent sales tax hike.
The whole state is affected, but the biggest impact of the new legislation is in the Triangle (see Aug. 14 story with reader comments).
"We commend Governor Perdue for signing this bill into law," said Berry Jenkins, co-chair of NC Go, a statewide transportation advocacy group. "This isn't a tax, but the freedom for communities and citizens who consider public transportation a priority to hold a vote. If a community is not ready, voters won't approve. But they should have that option."
If county commissioners in Wake, Durham and Orange agree, and if voters give their approval in a referendum, the three counties would collect an estimated $73 million a year from a half-cent sales tax that would be dedicated to local transit. No vote is expected before late 2010 or 2011.
Other new transit revenue streams would come from increased vehicle registration fees and a special property tax hike only in Research Triangle Park. In addition, Triangle cities also have new transit revenue powers, from legislation authorizing hikes in local car registration fees.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
qwedsa
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 03:06 — qwedsaWhat is local-option transit sales tax bill?Where it used?give more details regarding this topic.
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PERDUE BILL SIGING
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 20:35 — beachbum3I am guessing that our wonderful governor is planning to go truh the rest of the next three years of her term just doing bill signings in the publics eye so as to try an demonstrate that she is doing her job as governor, news flash here your job is on of leadership across this state in all state governmental issues from budgetary issues to roads teachers, dmv, shp an all of the other governmental offices why dont you get up off your behind an start to show some real leadership an quit tkaing the legisture at their word for everything they do an be a hands on governor instead of being a hands off governoor an then you might be able to actually see where the state expenditures are being spent an wasted an assist in the balancing of the state budgetary issues. you governor dumpling are supposely the leader of this state unless you are in waaaaay over your head in the position that you now hole as i personnaly suspect that you are an i vote for you but you can bet that i will not make that same mistake againg thank you
Mass Transit
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 16:46 — markdottoJust out of curiosity, can anyone tell me of a place that uses mass transit and does not have a congestion problem?
"This isn't a tax"
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:10 — sixnineIF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK....
When do you suppose this NON-TAX will be removed?
Don't get fooled
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 14:24 — stevemichaelsFirst off I would love to see mass transit, unfortnantely our local leaders have done such a poor job with any organized development it would be very hard - We were talking about trains in the early 70's here but it fell on deaf ears. But please don't feel that the powers will let us vote - does anyone remember any recent votes that approved the assembly taxing us 1 billion more dollars this year? How about all the other "temporary" sales tax increases - did you vote on them??
but it requites a vote
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 18:00 — gercohenstevemichaels said:
Did you read the story? the law requires a referendum.
Letting people vote -- what a novel idea!
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:20 — RonBContrary to uninformed opinions, new taxes for transit were *never* going to be rammed down anyone's throat.
The GOP, however, did everything they could to take away the right to vote on the issue from people. Why do Republicans from other parts of the state in the General Assembly hate our freedom?
These are the same people who had no problem ramming false intellegence to start a war, warrant-less wiretapping, unregulated finance, corporate protesters, etc. down our throats, so I'm not at all surprised.
If the Triangle is going to continue to successfully build up as well as out, mass transit will need to be improved to take even more vehicles off the road than it already does.
Just part of the cure
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:18 — gtrain82Transit would be nice, but development patterns arguably play just as much of a role in solving the transportation woes of the Triangle. Giving people the option of living in mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods would help things greatly. Hopefully, most of the voters out there are more thoughtful and forward-thinking than our friend jesmyopinion here.
Just because one's
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:11 — robdarichJust because one's administration is burning out from within doesn't mean more gas won't be poured on it. What exactly is the end game here, acting surprised?
Ah - bring it on!!! I have
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:00 — jesmyopinionAh - bring it on!!! I have been looking forward to see this get defeated by the voters! And I am glad to see the citizens get to vote on this rather than having it rammed down our throats by some liberal feel-good beauracrats.
"Ah - bring it on!!! I have
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:58 — jugband"Ah - bring it on!!! I have been looking forward to see this get
defeated by the voters! And I am glad to see the citizens get to vote
on this rather than having it rammed down our throats by some liberal
feel-good beauracrats."
I'm going to save this quote for when the triangle passes this tax.