A passing of a a half-cent sales tax increase dedicated to transit in Durham County shows that voters are willing to invest for new public transportation options. This is the first step towards upgrading North Carolina's mass transit system.
According to Yonah Freemark, "Charlotte's half-cent sales tax provided a quarter of the light rail line's cost, while the Triangle's 2000 plan could cover less than 10% of costs with local revenues, which came from a tax on rental cars and vehicle registrations."
The new plan for transit improvement is developed by the Triangle Regional Transit Program and according to Freemark, "will be implemented over the next thirty years as long as tax revenues come in as expected. ... Upgrading the region's bus network is a top priority and is the ideal first step towards a big investment in fixed-guideway transit. "
FULL STORY: In North Carolina’s Triangle, the Passage of a Sales Tax Increase in Durham is Just the First Step
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