Need to add one more stop to Conductor Hood’s survey of trolley whoppers.
The Charlotte trolley was supposed to cost $9 million, wound up costing $40 million. It is now in moth balls as we finish our $500 million light rail line. In the meantime, the local trolley booster outfit continues to collect $50,000 a year in Arts & Sciences Council money. Why, I have no idea.
On the economic development front, the trolley/light rail line was credited with spurring growth that included the $143 million Westin hotel. That would be the same $143 million Westin the city directly subsidized with $16 million upfront and provided a 20-year, $2.5 million a year kickback on hotel-motel taxes to.
The good news, of course, is that the push to repeal the half-cent sales tax for transit is rolling along.
All board!
