The N&O reports today here (second story) that Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross and Republican Senator Richard Stevens will introduce bills that will allow cities to levy sales taxes for transit. This means that other NC cities will follow Charlotte in establishing a taxpayer funded money pit to pay for a 19th century train that will not relieve congestion, will not improve air quality and will not save energy.
See Professor David Hartgen’s preliminary report on the Charlotte’s 19th century train here. He also notes in another report here that of the ten largest existing transit systems in the state, the Triangle Transit Authority has the largest taxpayer subsidy, $6.30 per trip, costing
taxpayers $12.60 for every workday commute. One wonders why the legislature would give these incompetent bureaucrats more money.
The answer is in this report from the Onion. “Report: 98 Percent of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation for Others”
Rich liberals just want to get all of the riffraff off the roads and onto slow moving 19th century trains so they can have the roads to themselves.
