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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-29-2004-5a04/26/2004 08:43 9196443002 printer-friendly story n~wsa~$~rver.com DR. CTVQ.PLANNING PAGE 02/06 l~ ~ ~; Page 1 of3 P~ ~cn~ ~ Thursday, April 15, 2004 6:14AM EDT Leaders ca11 transit funds urgent need By BRUCE SICE~OFF, Staff Writer New local fees and taxes are needed to fight traffic congestion and air pollution that could put the Triangle economy in gridlock, regional business and civic leaders said Wednesday. The General Assembly should give county commissioners in the Triangle more options to raise money for roads and transit, they said. The Triangle faces a projected shortfall of $8 billion to $10 billion in federal and state funds for transportation needs over the next 20 years. Meeker says he'd back a local gas tax, registration fee Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker told a state commission increase. studying urban transportation needs that he favored legislation allowing a local 5 percent sales tax c>n gasoline and a $20 increase in vehicle registration fees. That would give Wake County $10 million each year to upgrade public transit and $20 million to improve crowded streets, he said. Triangle business spokesmen said more local revenue is needed to keep freight and passenger traffic moving and the economy humming. But local governments can't raise the money without the General Assembly's permission. "The way government works is just not adequate to keep up with the growth of the area, and we desperately need the ability tw pay for some of these projects ourselves," James O. Roberson, president of the Research Triangle Foundation, said in an interview. The foundation develops and markets Research Triangle Park. No legislation has been drafted, Meeker was the only speaker to suggest specific tax and fee rates. The legislation could take any of several forms, including granting new revenue options to local governments across the state or only to a few urban counties. Two urban legislators on the committee offered encouraging comments but http://www.news-observer.cozn/front/digestly-print/story/3513724p-3117276c,html 4/ 19/2004 04(26/2004 06:43 9196443002 OR. CTV. PLANNING PAGE 03/06 printer-friendly story Page 2 of 3 pointed out that many legislators and county commissioners are reluctant to approve new taxes or new taxing authority. "This committee can do everything we want to, but where the rubber meets the road, it's what our own local delegations are willing to do for our communities," said Sen. Linda D. Garrou of Winston-Salem, a Democrat, "And a lot of them are going to say, 'We don't want to do anything.' " Rep. Don Munford, a Wake Republican serving on the commission, said he was skeptical but wanted to learn more, "I'm aware of the transportation problem we ha~~ie in Wake County, but I don't want to open a Pandora's box of local-option financing without us looking at all the other alternatives first," he said in an interview. Rep. Deborah K. Ross, a Wake Democrat not serving on the commission, said she was "receptive to finding different ways to do local transportation funding not dependent on the state." The commission's chairman, Rep. Drew Saunders of Mecklenburg County, said the commission will meet in May to consider recommending legislation to the General Assembly, which opens a session next month. A study commissioned in 2000 by the Regional Transportation Alliance, a business group that includes 15 Triangle chambers of commerce, said the region could count on $7.7 billion in state and federal transportation funds by 2.025, But the region would need $8 billion to $10 billion more to avoid being mired in traffic jams, the alliance said. After considering several revenue sources, alliance leaders found broad support for vehicle fees and gas taxes. Raleigh spends 7 cents of every dollar it raises from property taxes to finance $150 million in improvements to state_maintained thoroughfares such as Strickland and Falls of the Neuse roads, said Meeker, who also serves on the state commission. Meeker pointed out that state highway construction money favors interstate highways and major inter-city roads and leaves very little for city streets and relief of city traffic congestion, With more money, he said, Wake could launch Sunday and holiday bus service and make other improvements proposed for Capital Area Transit. Several thoroughfares could be widened or extended, fie said, http://www.news-observer coon/front/digesbv-print/story/3513724p-.3117276c.html 4/19/2004 04/26/2004 08:43 9196443002 OR. CTY. PLANNING PAGE 04/06 printer-friendly story Page 3 of 3 Traffic congestion is a key contributor to ozone pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to impose new air quality standards today that will require action to clean the Triangle's air. Business leaders plan to raise that issue as they try to sell legislators and taxpayers on the need for more transportation money. "We have to define the issue," Cisco study commission member, said in ai We've got pinch-points of congestion systems that don't necessarily match Systems executive Joseph A. Freddoso, a i interview. "Now we've got air quality. around the Triangle, We've got transit up to one another. "We've got to show people a path of funding that is going to lead to [improving] all those things," Freddoso said, "and then move forward with some flexibility that is going to help us attain those things," © Copyright 2004, The News & Observer Publishing Company, All material faund on trian4le.com (including newsobserver.com, ca_rynews.com, chapelhillnews.com, smithfieldherald.com, and easternwakenews,:com) is capyrighted The News ~ Observer Publishing Company and assaciated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused withaut explicit permission from The News & Observer Publishing Company, Raleigh, North Carolina. The News & Observer Publishing Company is owned by The McClatchy Comoanv [BACK] http://un~w..news-observer. com/front/digesUv-print/story/351.3724p-3117276c,html 4/19/2004