Voters could decide on tax for traffic relief
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
By Staff
Triangle mayors and legislators are lining up behind legislation to tackle urban traffic congestion, start building the state's first modern toll roads and find money for better bus service and a rail transit network.
Sen. Richard Stevens, a Cary Republican, is sponsoring a bill to set up a statewide fund for urban transit and congestion relief. House sponsors include Democratic Reps. Deborah Ross of Raleigh and Lucy Allen of Louisburg. Other Triangle legislators are co-sponsors.
The measure would allow Triangle voters to consider implementing a half-cent sales tax dedicated to public transit. Proceeds from the tax — a nickel on every $10 purchase — could cover more than half the cost of a 27-year, $8.2 billion rail-bus plan proposed recently by a three-county citizen advisory panel.
"It's something for the public to decide," Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said. "With increasingly high gas prices, the idea of having additional bus service and rail service for the future makes a good deal of sense for our area. (more…)
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