Transportation, Triangle
- December 12, 2007
All Aboard. Next Stop: Tax Increases for Transportation
A majority of Triangle residents say they’re willing to pay more taxes or fees if it will help improve traffic congestion. That’s according to poll results released this afternoon by Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling.
Sixty-three percent of surveyed residents say they would support some type of increase (such as sales tax or vehicle registration fees) to either widen roads, improve mass transit or fund other potential solutions. The phone survey of 505 likely voters living in Wake, Durham and Chatham counties also found that 29 percent would not support any fee increases.
This is the same poll that included questions on ACC sports fans and their political affiliations. I had the pleasure of riding on Charlotte’s new light rail, called LYNX, when I was down there last week for computer training. The $4 day pass was well worth leaving my car at a park and ride lot near my hotel and riding downtown. According to the LYNX Web site: “Running at 80% capacity, the line will move twice as many people as one accident-free lane on I-77.”
Just imagine what effect a system like that could have on I-40 and 440! I know the folks at the Triangle Transit Authority have been working with partners to bring a light rail to the area. Maybe someday we’ll all be able to climb aboard.
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3 Responses to “All Aboard. Next Stop: Tax Increases for Transportation”
Ditto - a good public transportation in this city could do wonders.
By absent.canadian on Dec 12, 2007
OOOOh! You brought up one of my favorite subjects! Check out my response to another blogger who posted along the same lines here - http://ummyeahihaveanopinion.blogspot.com/2007/12/price-of-progress.html.
By lsullivan on Dec 13, 2007
So, I will expose my ignorance here, and hope that perhaps I can learn something. The idea of light rail sounds very flashy and progressive. However I wonder if if is really the most effective way to move the public around here in the triangle. From what I understand due to the recently built parking decks at the airport the rail lines, as they are planned now, won’t go there. I wonder if this is in fact true. Don’t get me wrong I am in favor of mass transit and would be among those that would pay whatever increase in fees and taxes that was needed to fund it. I just wonder whether we are getting what is best for us and if the reasons for choosing light rail and the designs of the system are logical or political?
By h-j on Jan 1, 2008