Fascinating 72 hours.
First, the state Senate spits out a budget which notices that state government does not have the money lying around to fund low-priority, low-impact projects like CATS’ $400m. Red rail line up I-77. State Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Matthews) even says out loud that spending more money on CATS’ trains would take money away from other more important transportation projects around the state, a connection which local transit boosters have denied for over 20 years.
But then House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Carroll Gray) turns around and says the $22.5m. for the Blue line extension would be put back in by the House and senate restrictions on committing state money to the Red line would — presumably — also be removed. Meanwhile, CATS CEO Carolyn Flowers piped up with the non-sequitar that a removal of state funds would mean no federal funds, nevermind that there are not enough local funds available to do more than build a rump of a Blue line extension to UNCC. The Red line — as currently conceived as a heavy rail commuter line — will never quality for federal funds as the South Blvd. line did (about 50 percent of the total cost) because the ridership is far too low and the line’s impact on reducing congestion on 77 almost invisible.
Want more? There is absolutely no reason why the General Assembly could not throw some part of $64.6m. back into the NC DOT general construction fund by tweaking state law to allow for the use of half-cent dollars to build HOT facilities up 77. Recall the original enabling legislation of the half-cent allowed for funding of HOV facilities and equipment, just not roadways. If the tolling system for 77 were to cost $10m. to 15m. then it should come out half-cent transit tax revenue instead of allowing CATS to hoard it for its $9.5b. train-building dream.
